So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,

‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

“‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple.

‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: