"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,'Let your handsbe strong,you who are listeningin thesedaysto thesewordsfrom the mouthof the prophets,[those] who[spoke] in the daythat the foundationof the houseof the LORDof hostswas laid,to the end that the templemight be built.
"Thenyou will prosper,ifyou are carefulto observethe statutesand the ordinanceswhichthe LORDcommandedMosesconcerningIsrael.Be strongand courageous,do not fearnorbe dismayed.
Then Davidsaidto his sonSolomon,"Be strongand courageous,and act;do not fearnorbe dismayed,for the LORDGod,my God,is with you. He will not failyou norforsakeyou untilallthe workfor the serviceof the houseof the LORDis finished.
"But you, be strongand do not losecourage,for thereis rewardfor your work."
And the eldersof the Jewswere successfulin buildingthrough the prophesyingof Haggaithe prophetand Zechariahthe sonof Iddo.And they finishedbuildingaccordingto the commandof the Godof Israeland the decreeof Cyrus,Darius,and Artaxerxeskingof Persia.
Encouragethe exhausted,and strengthenthe feeble.
Sayto those with anxiousheart,"Takecourage,fearnot. Behold,your Godwill come[with] vengeance;The recompenseof Godwill come,But He will saveyou."
In the secondyearof Dariusthe king,on the firstdayof the sixthmonth,the wordof the LORDcameby the prophetHaggaito Zerubbabelthe sonof Shealtiel,governorof Judah,and to Joshuathe sonof Jehozadak,the highpriest,saying,
Then Zerubbabelthe sonof Shealtiel,and Joshuathe sonof Jehozadak,the highpriest,with allthe remnantof the people,obeyedthe voiceof the LORDtheir Godand the wordsof Haggaithe prophet,as the LORDtheir Godhad senthim. And the peopleshowedreverencefor the LORD.
Do considerfrom thisdayonward,from the twenty-fourthdayof the ninth[month]; from the daywhenthe templeof the LORDwas founded,consider:
"Speakto Zerubbabelgovernorof Judah,saying,I am going to shakethe heavensand the earth.
It will comeabout that justas you were a curseamong the nations,O houseof Judahand houseof Israel,soI will saveyou that you may becomea blessing.Do not fear;let your handsbe strong.'
Then the wordof the LORDof hostscameto me, saying,
Finally,be strongin the Lordand in the strengthof His might.
You therefore,my son,be strongin the gracethat is in ChristJesus.
"Be strongand courageous,for you shall givethispeoplepossessionof the landwhichI sworeto their fathersto givethem.
"Thisbookof the lawshall not departfrom your mouth,but you shall meditateon it dayand night,sothat you may be carefulto doaccording to allthat is writtenin it; for thenyou will makeyour wayprosperous,and thenyou will havesuccess.
