Haggai 1:4

1:4 “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses ¹  while my temple is in ruins? ² 

Haggai 2:3

2:3 ‘Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple? ³  How does it look to you now? Isn’t it nothing by comparison?

[1:4]  ¹ 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.

[1:4]  ² 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.”

[2:3]  ³ tn Heb “this house in its earlier splendor”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “in its former glory.”