Study Desk

"Look among the nations! Watch! Be horrified! Be frightened speechless! For I am accomplishing a work in your days— You would not believe it even if you were told!

"For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That grim and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth, To take possession of dwelling places that are not theirs.

I will stand at my guard post And station myself on the watchtower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, And how I may reply when I am reprimanded.

This is the presumptuous city That dwells securely, Who says in her heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me." How she has become a desolation, A resting place for animals! Everyone who passes by her will hiss And wave his hand in contempt.

"Behold, I am going to deal at that time With all your oppressors; I will save those who limp And gather the scattered, And I will turn their shame into praise and fame In all the earth.

Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke by the commission of the LORD to the people, saying, "'I am with you,' declares the LORD."

'But now take courage, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD, 'take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,' declares the LORD, 'and work; for I am with you,' declares the LORD of armies.

"For this is what the LORD of armies says: 'Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

"Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, 'I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.

So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, 'This is what the LORD of armies says: "I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.

"But I am very angry with the nations who are carefree; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster."

"For behold, I am going to wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of armies has sent Me.

"Shout for joy and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," declares the LORD.

'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.

'For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I am going to engrave an inscription on it,' declares the LORD of armies, 'and I will remove the guilt of that land in one day.

"The LORD of armies says this: 'I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.'

"The LORD of armies says this: 'Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west;

Return to the stronghold, you prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

"And I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them back, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.

"For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or provide for the one who is exhausted, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs.