2 Kings 7:3

7:3 Now four men with a skin disease ¹  were sitting at the entrance of the city gate. They said to one another, “Why are we just sitting here waiting to die? ² 

Haggai 1:4-5

1:4 “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses ³  while my temple is in ruins? ⁴  1:5 Here then is what the Lord who rules over all says: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. ⁵ 

¹ sn See the note at 2 Kgs 5:1.

² tn Heb “until we die.”

³ sn Richly paneled houses. Paneling is otherwise known in the OT only in connection with the temple (1 Kgs 6:9) and the royal palace (2 Kgs 7:3, 7). It implies decoration and luxury (cf. NCV “fancy houses”; TEV “well-built houses”; NLT “luxurious houses”). The impropriety of the people living in such lavish accommodations while the temple lay unfinished is striking.

⁴ tn Heb “Is it time for you, [yes] you, to live in paneled houses, while this house is in ruins”; NASB “lies desolate”; NIV “remains a ruin.”

⁵ tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways” (see 2:15, 18); traditionally “Consider your ways” (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB).