1. In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:
2. This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘These people say, “The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.” ’
3. Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:
4. ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’
5. Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways.
6. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.’
7. This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways.
8. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured,’ says the Lord.