Study Desk

The bad things you have done to Lebanon will come back to you. Because you have killed its animals, now they will make you afraid. This will happen because of all the killing you have done. You have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

At that time I will look through Jerusalem with a light and will punish those who take it easy and do not care what happens. They say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or bad.'

Their riches will be taken from them and their houses will be laid waste. They will build houses but not live in them. They will plant grape-fields but not drink their wine."

I will bring trouble to men so that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like body waste.

The land by the sea will be for those left of the people of Judah. They will let their flocks eat there. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. For the Lord their God will care for them and return their riches.

"I have heard how Moab has made fun of My people and the sons of Ammon have spoken strong words against them. They have spoken in pride against My people's land.

Her men who tell what is going to happen in the future are proud and cannot be trusted. Her religious leaders have made the holy place unclean. They have turned in anger against the Law.

I said, ‘For sure you will honor Me with fear and receive teaching.' Then her place would not be destroyed and she would not be punished as I had planned. But they were quick to make all their works sinful.

But I will leave among you people who are not proud, and they will be safe in the name of the Lord.

The people of Israel who are left will do no wrong and tell no lies. A lying tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down with no one to make them afraid."

At that time I will punish all those who made it hard for you. I will save those who cannot walk and gather those who have been driven away. And I will turn their shame into praise. They will be known all over the earth.

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the head religious leader, and all the rest of the people of Israel, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God. They obeyed the words of Haggai the man of God, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people honored the Lord with fear.

So the Lord moved the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, ruler of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the head religious leader, and the spirit of all the rest of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of All, their God.

Then Haggai said, "‘So are these people, and so is this nation before Me,' says the Lord. ‘And so is everything they have made. What they give there is unclean.

Do not be like your fathers. The men who spoke for Me in the past told them, ‘The Lord of All says, "Return from your sinful ways and from your sinful works."' But they did not listen to Me," says the Lord.

"Where are your fathers now? And the men who spoke for Me, do they live forever?

I gave My Words and My Laws to your fathers through My servants who spoke for Me. But they would not listen and so they were punished. Then they were sorry for their sins and said, ‘The Lord of All has punished us for our ways and our works, as He said He would.'"'"

And they said to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have looked over all the earth, and saw that the whole earth is at rest and in peace."

I will wave My hand over them, and they will be taken by those who were made to serve them. Then you will know that the Lord of All has sent Me.

Then I said, "Let them put a clean covering on his head." So they put a clean covering on his head and dressed him in clothes, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.