Haggai 1 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Rebuild the Temple

1 (A) On the first day of the sixth month of the second year that Darius was king of Persia,[a] the Lord told Haggai the prophet to speak his message to the governor of Judah and to the high priest.

So Haggai told Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua[b] 2-5 that the Lord All-Powerful had said to them and to the people:

You say this isn't the right time to build a temple for me. But is it right for you to live in expensive houses,[c] while my temple is a pile of ruins? Just look at what's happening. 6 You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don't keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes.

7 Think about what I have said! 8 But first, go to the hills and get wood for my temple, so I can take pride in it and be worshiped there. 9 You expected much, but received only a little. And when you brought it home, I made that little disappear. Why have I done this? It's because you hurry off to build your own houses, while my temple is still in ruins. 10 That's also why the dew doesn't fall and your harvest fails. 11 And so, at my command everything will become barren—your farmland and pastures, your vineyards and olive trees, your animals and you yourselves. All your hard work will be for nothing.

12 Zerubbabel and Joshua, together with the others who had returned from exile in Babylonia, obeyed the Lord's message spoken by his prophet Haggai, and they started showing proper respect for the Lord. 13 Haggai then told them that the Lord had promised to be with them. 14 So the Lord God All-Powerful made everyone eager to work on his temple, especially Zerubbabel and Joshua. 15 And the work began on the twenty-fourth day of that same month.

Footnotes

  1. 1.1 sixth month … king of Persia: Elul, the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-August to mid-September; the second year of the rule of Darius was 520 b.c.
  2. 1.1 Governor … Joshua: Hebrew “Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.”
  3. 1.2-5 expensive houses: Either houses with paneled interiors or with roofs; the temple was not yet completely rebuilt at this time.

Cross references

  1. 1.1 : Ezra 4.24—5.2; 6.14.

You Might Also Like:

Haggai 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, hath a word of Jehovah been by the hand of Haggai the prophet, unto Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and unto Joshua son of Josedech, the high priest, saying: 2 Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, say...
Read More

Haggai 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

1 In the second year of Darius, king of Persia, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord was made in the hand of Haggai, prophet, to Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, duke of Judah, and to Joshua, the great priest, [the] son of Josedech[a]1, and said, (In the second year o...
Read More

Haggai 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, Yahweh’s[a] word came by Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 “This is what Yahweh of Armies says: Thes...
Read More

Haggai 1 - The Voice (VOICE)

1 On the first day of the sixth month, during the second year King Darius reigned over the Persian Empire, the prophet named Haggai gave a message from the Eternal One to men named Zerubbabel (Shealtiel’s son and the Jewish governor of Judah) and Joshua (Jehozadak’s son and the high priest). 2 This...
Read More

Haggai 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

A Call to Build the House of Adonai1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of Adonai came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah[a], and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, kohen gadol[b]: 2 “Thus says Adonai-Tzv...
Read More

Haggai 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Command to Rebuild the Temple1 In the second year of Dari′us the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerub′babel the son of She-al′ti-el, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jeho′zadak, the high priest, 2 “Thus says...
Read More

Haggai 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Command to Rebuild the Temple1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerub′babel the son of She-al′ti-el, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehoz′adak, the high priest, 2 “Thus says ...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

The Command to Rebuild the Temple1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts:...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Command to Rebuild the Temple1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts:...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Command to Rebuild the Temple1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:(A)2 “Thus says the Lord of host...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

A Call to Rebuild the Temple1 On August 29[a] of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua[b] son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The peo...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

Word Is Given to Build the House of God1 On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king, the Word of the Lord came to Haggai. The Word was for Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, ruler of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the head religious leader, saying, 2 “This i...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Command to Build God’s House(A)1 In (B)the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by (C)Haggai the prophet to (D)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to (E)Joshua the son of (F)Jehozadak, the high priest, saying...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

A call to build the house of the Lord1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest: 2 This is what the Lord Almighty sa...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New International Version (NIV)

A Call to Build the House of the Lord1 In the second year of King Darius,(A) on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai(B) to Zerubbabel(C) son of Shealtiel, governor(D) of Judah, and to Joshua(E) son of Jozadak,[a](F) the high priest:(G) 2 This is what...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Haggai Tells His People to Rebuild the Lord’s Temple1 A message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet. Haggai gave it to Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zerubbabel was governor of Judah and the son of Shealtiel. Joshua was high priest and the son of Jozadak. The message came on the first day of the sixth ...
Read More

Haggai 1 - New English Translation (NET)

Introduction1 On the first day of the sixth month[a] of King Darius’[b] second year, the Lord’s message came through[c] the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak:[d] The Accusation of Indifference Against the People2 This is ...
Read More