15 And now, I pray you, consider what will happen from this day onward. Since the time before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord, how have you fared?
15 And Haggai answered and he said: Such is this people, and such is this nation before my face, says the Lord, and such is all the work of their hands. And so all that they have offered there has been contaminated.
15 And Aggeus answered, and said: So is this people, and so is this nation before my face, saith the Lord, and so is all the work of their hands: and all that they have offered there, shall be defiled.
The builders finished laying the foundation for the Lord’s temple. When the foundation was finished, the priests put on their priests’ clothing. Then they got their trumpets. And the sons of Asaph got their cymbals. They all took their places to praise the Lord. This was done the way David, king of Israel, ordered in the past.
You party with your wine, harps, {\cf2\super [52]} drums, flutes, and other musical instruments. And you don’t see the things the Lord has done. The Lord’s hands have made many, many things—but you don’t notice those things. So, it will be very bad for you people.
A wise person understands these things.\par A smart person should learn these things.\par The Lord’s ways are right.\par Good people will live by them.\par Sinners will die by them. {\cf2\super [153]} \par
People wanted 20 measures of grain, but there were only 10 measures of grain in the pile. People wanted to get 50 jars of wine from the wine vat, but there were only 20!
\{The Lord said,\} “Today is the 24th day of the ninth month. You have finished laying the foundation of the Lord’s temple. So notice what happens from this day forward!
Before that time, men didn’t have the money to hire workers or to rent animals. And it was not safe for people to come and go. There was no relief from all the troubles. I had turned every man against his neighbor.