Blessings for a Defiled People

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,(A) in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests(B) what the law says: 12 If someone carries consecrated meat(C) in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?(D)’”

The priests answered, “No.”

13 Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.(E)

14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people(F) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer(G) there is defiled.

15 “‘Now give careful thought(H) to this from this day on[a]—consider how things were before one stone was laid(I) on another in the Lord’s temple.(J) 16 When anyone came to a heap(K) of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat(L) to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.(M) 17 I struck all the work of your hands(N) with blight,(O) mildew and hail,(P) yet you did not return(Q) to me,’ declares the Lord.(R) 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought(S) to the day when the foundation(T) of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate(U) and the olive tree have not borne fruit.(V)

“‘From this day on I will bless(W) you.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Haggai 2:15 Or to the days past

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