“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

(A)‘Let your hands be strong,
You who have been hearing in these days
These words by the mouth of (B)the prophets,
Who spoke in (C)the day the foundation was laid
For the house of the Lord of hosts,
That the temple might be built.
10 For before these days
There were no (D)wages for man nor any hire for beast;
There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;
For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.

11 (E)But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.

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This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong(A) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets(B) said who were present when the foundation(C) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages(D) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely(E) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”(F) declares the Lord Almighty.

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