Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which {were} in the day {that} the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that {were} in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, {even} unto them.

For the seed {shall be} prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these {things}. {prosperous: Heb. of peace}

O that they were wise, {that} they understood this, {that} they would consider their latter end!

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

In the four and twentieth {day} of the ninth {month}, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

A wicked man hardeneth his face: but {as for} the upright, he directeth his way. {directeth: or, considereth}

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since {the people} began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left {is} this great store.

And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, {and} laid the foundation of the house of God which {is} in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and {yet} it is not finished.

And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I {am} the LORD your God.

Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I {am} the LORD your God.

Now, lo, {if} he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,