¹⁴ So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching^(A) of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus,^(B) Darius^(C) and Artaxerxes,^(D) kings of Persia.

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

7 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes^(A) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,^(B) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,^(C)

²⁴ Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius^(A) king of Persia.

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

5 Now Haggai^(B) the prophet and Zechariah^(C) the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied^(D) to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. ² Then Zerubbabel^(E) son of Shealtiel and Joshua^(F) son of Jozadak set to work^(G) to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

¹³ Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates^(C) carried it out with diligence.

Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return^(A)

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,^(B) the Lord moved the heart^(C) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

⁹ “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation^(A) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.^(B) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me^(C) to you.

A Man With a Measuring Line

2 ^[a]Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. ² I asked, “Where are you going?”

He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”^(A)

³ While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him ⁴ and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls^(B) because of the great number^(C) of people and animals in it.^(D)

² “Speak to Zerubbabel^(A) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,^[a](B) the high priest, and to the remnant^(C) of the people. Ask them, ³ ‘Who of you is left who saw this house^(D) in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?^{(E) 4} But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong,^(F) Joshua son of Jozadak,^(G) the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with^(H) you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁵ ‘This is what I covenanted^(I) with you when you came out of Egypt.^(J) And my Spirit^(K) remains among you. Do not fear.’^(L)

⁶ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while^(M) I will once more shake the heavens and the earth,^(N) the sea and the dry land. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and what is desired^(O) by all nations will come, and I will fill this house^(P) with glory,^(Q)’ says the Lord Almighty. ⁸ ‘The silver is mine and the gold^(R) is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁹ ‘The glory^(S) of this present house^(T) will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,^(U)’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Blessings for a Defiled People

¹⁰ On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,^(V) in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: ¹¹ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests^(W) what the law says: ¹² If someone carries consecrated meat^(X) in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?^(Y)’”

The priests answered, “No.”

¹³ Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.^(Z)”

¹⁴ Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people^(AA) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer^(AB) there is defiled.

¹⁵ “‘Now give careful thought^(AC) to this from this day on^[b]—consider how things were before one stone was laid^(AD) on another in the Lord’s temple.^(AE)