&#8216;Do not fear, because I made a promise to your ancestors when they left Egypt, and my spirit<n id="1" /> even now testifies to you.&#8217;<n id="2" />

&#8216;You expected a large harvest, but instead<n id="1" /> there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away.<n id="2" /> Why?&#8217; asks the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all. &#8216;Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house!<n id="3" />

Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,<n id="1" /> along with the whole remnant of the people,<n id="2" /> obeyed<n id="3" /> the <sc>Lordsc> their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the <sc>Lordsc> their God had instructed him,<n id="4" /> and the people began to respect the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="5" />

&#8216;Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple?<n id="1" /> How does it look to you now? Isn&#8217;t it nothing by comparison?

<p class="bodytext">Then Haggai responded, &#8220;&#8216;The people of this nation are unclean in my sight,&#8217;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>. &#8216;And so is all their effort; everything they offer is also unclean.<n id="2" />

&#8216;Think carefully about the past:<n id="1" /> from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,<n id="2" /> to the day work on the temple of the <sc>Lordsc> was resumed,<n id="3" /> think about it.<n id="4" />