Haggai 1

1 In the second year of the reign [kingly rule, dominion] of Darius [a title given to Persian kings], on the first [one, united] day of the sixth month, the word [a thing, a matter] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came through Haggai [a prophet, a spokesperson for God] the prophet to Zerubbabel [a leader, a governor] son of Shealtiel, governor [a leader of a city or region] of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high [great, exalted] priest, stating [saying, speaking, to say or speak] word study 2 that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: “These people [a nation, the nation of Israel] say, ‘The time [especially now, an event or occasion] has not yet come [has not yet arrived, is not yet here] to rebuild [to build again, to restore] the house [a dwelling place, the temple] of the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah].’” word study 3 Then the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [was given, existed] through [by the hand of, by means of] Haggai [the prophet who spoke for God] the prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson], saying [to speak, to declare, to command]: word study 4 “Is it a time [an occasion, a season] for you yourselves [personally] to live [to dwell, to reside] in your paneled [ceiled, covered] houses [homes, dwellings], while this [specific] house [temple, the Lord’s house] lies [remains, is left] in ruins [waste, desolate, a state of decay]?” word study 5 Now [at this time, in this moment] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: “Consider [set your heart, think about] carefully [give thought to, reflect on] your ways [path, journey, manner of life]. word study 6 You have planted [sown much seed, scattered widely] much but harvested [brought in, gathered] little. You eat [consume food, devour] but never have enough [are not filled, lack satisfaction]. You drink [consume liquids, swallow] but never have your fill [are not satisfied, still thirsty]. You put on [clothe yourselves with, wrap around] clothes but never get warm [are not heated, lack comfort]. You earn wages [labour for payment, hire yourselves out] to put into a bag [pouch, container] pierced through [with holes, leaking].” word study 7 This is what [thus, in this manner] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people] says: “Consider [set your heart, think about] carefully [give thought to, reflect on] your ways [path, journey, manner of life]. word study 8 Go up [to the mountain] into the hills, bring down [wood, timber] lumber, and build [establish, repair] the house [dwelling place, temple], so that I may take pleasure [be pleased, accept] in it and be glorified [honored, made weighty], says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 9 You expected much [looking for a great harvest], but behold [see, take notice], it amounted to little [came to almost nothing]. And what you brought home [gathered, collected], I blew away [destroyed, scattered]. Why [for what reason, what is the cause]? declares the LORD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. Because My house [temple, dwelling place] still lies in ruins [is waste, desolate], while each of you is busy [running, rushing] with his own house [personal dwelling, family]. word study 10 Therefore [on account of your actions], on account of you [because of your behavior] the heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm] have withheld [restrained, held back] their dew [moisture, gentle rain] and the earth [the land, the ground] has withheld [restricted, denied] its crops [fruits, produce, harvest]. word study 11 I have summoned [called out for, proclaimed] a drought [severe lack of rain, desolation] on the fields [grain fields, agricultural lands] and on the mountains [hills, elevated areas], on the grain [wheat, staple food], new wine [freshly squeezed, fermented], and oil [producing light, anointing], and on whatever [all that] the ground yields [produces, brings forth], on man [humankind, Adam] and beast [animal, livestock], and on all [every aspect of] the labor [toil, hard work] of your hands [palm, effort].” word study 12 Then Zerubbabel [leader of Judah] son of Shealtiel and Joshua [Yahweh is salvation] son of Jehozadak, the high priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], as well as all [everything, the whole] the remnant [what is left after destruction or departure] of the people, obeyed [heeded, listened to] the voice [sound, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] their God [Elohim, the one supreme God] and the words [things spoken, messages] of the prophet [one who speaks for God] Haggai, because the LORD [Yehovah] their God had sent [appointed, dispatched] him. So the people [nation, community] feared [stood in awe, revered] the LORD [Yehovah]. word study 13 Haggai [the prophet, messenger of God], the messenger [representative] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], delivered the message [communication or word] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] to the people [am, a nation or group]: “I am with [near or alongside] you,” declares [an utterance or declaration] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel]. word study 14 So the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] stirred [roused, motivated] the spirit [breath of life, mind and emotions] of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor [leader, official] of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], as well as the spirit of all [everything, the whole] the remnant [what is left after destruction or exile] of the people. And they came [approached, entered] and began [started, initiated] the work [labor, task] on the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, a large group], their God [Elohim, the one supreme God], word study 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King [royal ruler, monarch] Darius [Darius the king, a title given to Persian kings]. word study