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In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the Word of Yahuah came by the hand of Chaggai the prophet, saying:
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“Speak now to Zerubbavel son of She’alti’el, governor of Yehudah, and to Yehoshua son of Yehotzadaq, the high kohen, and to the remnant of the people, saying:
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‘Who is left among you who saw this House in its former Glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
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And now, be strong, Zerubbavel,’ declares Yahuah. ‘And be strong, Yehoshua son of Yehotzadaq, the high kohen. And be strong, all people of the land,’ declares Yahuah, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ declares Yahuah of Hosts.
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‘According to the Word that I cut with you when you came out of Mitzrayim, and My Ruach stands in your midst. Do not fear.’
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For thus says Yahuah of Hosts: ‘Yet once, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry land.
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And I will shake all the nations, and the desired things of all the nations shall come. And I will fill this House with Glory,’ says Yahuah of Hosts.
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‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares Yahuah of Hosts.
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‘The latter Glory of this House shall be greater than the former,’ says Yahuah of Hosts. ‘And in this place I will give shalom,’ declares Yahuah of Hosts.”
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On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Daryavesh, the Word of Yahuah came by the hand of Chaggai the prophet, saying:
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Thus says Yahuah of Hosts: “Ask now the kohenim concerning Torah, saying:
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‘If an ish carries holy flesh in the fold of his garment, and with his fold he touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any food— does it become holy?’” And the kohenim answered and said: “No.”
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Then Chaggai said: “If one unclean by a dead being touches any of these, does it become unclean?” And the kohenim answered and said: “It becomes unclean.”
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Then Chaggai answered and said: “So is this people, and so is this nation before My face,” declares Yahuah, “and so is every work of their hands. And what they bring near there is unclean.
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And now, set your heart from this day and backward, before stone was placed upon stone in the Temple of Yahuah.
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When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the winepress to draw fifty measures from the vat, there were only twenty.
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I struck you with blight, and with mildew, and with hail, in all the work of your hands, yet you did not return to Me,” declares Yahuah.
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“Set your heart now from this day and onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundation of the Temple of Yahuah was laid. Set your heart.
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Is the seed still in the storehouse? And even until now, the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not borne. From this day I will bless.”
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And the Word of Yahuah came a second time to Chaggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying:
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“Speak to Zerubbavel, governor of Yehudah, saying: ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth.
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And I will overturn the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. And I will overturn the chariot and those riding in it. And the horses and their riders shall fall, each ish by the sword of his brother.
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In that day,’ declares Yahuah of Hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbavel son of She’alti’el, My servant,’ declares Yahuah, ‘and I will make you like a signet, for I have chosen you,’ declares Yahuah of Hosts.”