Study Desk

I will let only meek and humble people stay in my city, and they will trust the Lord 's name.

The survivors of Israel will not do bad things or tell lies. They will not try to trick people with lies. They will be like sheep that eat and lie down in peace—and no one will bother them."

At that time I will punish those who hurt you. I will save my hurt people and bring back those who were forced to leave. I will give them praise and honor everywhere, even in places where they suffered shame.

I will shake up the nations, and they will come to you with wealth from every nation. And then I will fill this Temple with glory.' That is what the Lord All-Powerful said!

Then Haggai said, "This is what the Lord God said: ‘This is also true for the people of this nation. They were not pure and holy before me. So anything they did with their hands and anything they offered at the altar became unclean.

Your seed for planting is still in the barn. And look at the vines, the fig trees, and the pomegranate and olive trees. They have not yet produced any fruit. But beginning today, I will bless you.'"

And I will overthrow many kings and kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of those other people. I will destroy their chariots and their riders. I will defeat their war horses and riders. These armies are friends now, but they will turn against each other and kill each other with swords."

The prophets were my servants. I used them to tell your ancestors about my laws and teachings. Your ancestors finally learned their lesson and said, ‘The Lord All-Powerful did what he said he would do. He punished us for the way we lived and for all the evil things we did.' So they came back to God."

And I am very angry at the nations that feel so safe. I was only a little angry, and I used them to punish my people. But they caused too much damage."

The Lord sent me to the nations that took away your wealth. He sent me to bring you honor. And this is what the Lord All-Powerful said: "If anyone even touches you, it is as if they did it to the pupil of my eye.

At that time people from many nations will come to me. They will become my people, and I will live in your city." Then you will know it was the Lord All-Powerful who sent me to tell you these things.

Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put the clean turban on him and also put clean clothes on him while the Lord 's angel stood there.

The Lord All-Powerful says, "At that time people will sit and talk with their friends and neighbors. They will invite each other to sit under the fig trees and grapevines."

People will not be ashamed of the small beginnings, and they will be very happy when they see Zerubbabel with the plumb line, measuring and checking the finished building. Now the seven sides of the stone you saw represent the eyes of the Lord looking in every direction. They see everything on earth."

Then the angel told me, "There is a curse written on that scroll. On one side of the scroll, there is a curse against thieves and on the other side is a curse against people who lie when they make promises.

The Lord All-Powerful says, ‘I will send that scroll to the houses of thieves and people who lie when they use my name to make promises. That scroll will settle there and destroy even the stones and wooden posts of their houses.'"

Then I looked up and saw two women with wings like a stork. They flew out, and with the wind in their wings, they picked up the bucket. They flew through the air carrying the bucket.

Then he shouted at me and said, "Look, those horses that were going north finished their job in Babylon . They have calmed my spirit; I am not angry now!"

The crown will be kept in my Temple, so that when people see it, they will remember Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the kindness of Zephaniah's son Josiah."

They went to the prophets and to the priests at the Temple of the Lord All-Powerful. They asked them this question: "For many years we have shown our sadness for the destruction of the Temple. In the fifth month of each year, we have had a special time of crying and fasting. Should we continue to do this?"