Study Desk

The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook, Drag them away with their net, And gather them together in their fishing net. Therefore they rejoice and are joyful.

Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net And burn incense to their fishing net, Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful.

Will they therefore empty their net, And continually slay nations without sparing?

Sun and moon stood in their lofty places; They went away at the light of Your arrows, At the radiance of Your flashing spear.

"Their wealth will become plunder, And their houses desolate; Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine."

I will bring distress on mankind So that they will walk like those who are blind, Because they have sinned against the LORD; And their blood will be poured out like dust, And their flesh like dung.

And the coast will be For the remnant of the house of Judah, They will drive sheep to pasture on it. In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening; For the LORD their God will care for them And restore their fortunes.

"I have heard the taunting of Moab And the abusive speech of the sons of Ammon, With which they have taunted My people And boasted against their territory.

This they will have in return for their arrogance, because they have taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of armies.

"But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.

"The remnant of Israel will do no wrong And tell no lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to frighten them."

So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of armies, their God,

'I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of armies.

Then Haggai responded and said, "'So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,' declares the LORD, 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

"Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, 'This is what the LORD of armies says: "Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds."' But they did not listen or pay attention to Me," declares the LORD.

"Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?

"But did My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, not overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, 'Just as the LORD of armies planned to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.'"'"

So they responded to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, "We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is still and quiet."

Then I said, "Have them put a clean headband on his head." So they put the clean headband on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.

'Now listen, Joshua, you high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a sign: for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.