Daily Bread

Blessings for a Defiled People

¹⁰ On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,^(A) in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: ¹¹ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests^(B) what the law says: ¹² If someone carries consecrated meat^(C) in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?^(D)’”

The priests answered, “No.”

¹³ Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.^(E)”

¹⁴ Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people^(F) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer^(G) there is defiled.

¹⁵ “‘Now give careful thought^(H) to this from this day on^[a]—consider how things were before one stone was laid^(I) on another in the Lord’s temple.^{(J) 16} When anyone came to a heap^(K) of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat^(L) to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.^{(M) 17} I struck all the work of your hands^(N) with blight,^(O) mildew and hail,^(P) yet you did not return^(Q) to me,’ declares the Lord.^{(R) 18} ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought^(S) to the day when the foundation^(T) of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: ¹⁹ Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate^(U) and the olive tree have not borne fruit.^(V)

“‘From this day on I will bless^(W) you.’”

Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

²⁰ The word of the Lord came to Haggai^(X) a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:^{(Y) 21} “Tell Zerubbabel^(Z) governor of Judah that I am going to shake^(AA) the heavens and the earth. ²² I will overturn^(AB) royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.^(AC) I will overthrow chariots^(AD) and their drivers; horses and their riders^(AE) will fall, each by the sword of his brother.^(AF)

²³ “‘On that day,^(AG)’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant^(AH) Zerubbabel^(AI) son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,^(AJ) for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”