“ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building.

万军之耶和华如此说：“当建造万军之耶和华的殿，立根基之日的先知所说的话，现在你们听见，应当手里强壮。

“万军之耶和华如此说：你们的手要坚强；这些日子，你们已听见先知的口，在万军之耶和华殿的根基立定、圣殿建造的日子所说的这些话。

“万军之耶和华如此说：你们的手要坚强；这些日子，你们已听见先知的口，在万军之耶和华殿的根基立定、圣殿建造的日子所说的这些话。

“万军之耶和华说，‘在奠立万军之耶和华殿的根基那天，众先知都在场。现今听见这些先知之言的人啊，你们要刚强，以便可以建造圣殿！

“万军之耶和华这样说：‘在万军之耶和华的殿奠立了根基，预备建造的日子，你们这些在当时听过众先知亲口宣告这些话的人，现在你们的手务要刚强。

萬軍之耶和華如此說：「當建造萬軍之耶和華的殿，立根基之日的先知所說的話，現在你們聽見，應當手裏強壯。

「萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們的手要堅強；這些日子，你們已聽見先知的口，在萬軍之耶和華殿的根基立定、聖殿建造的日子所說的這些話。

「萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們的手要堅強；這些日子，你們已聽見先知的口，在萬軍之耶和華殿的根基立定、聖殿建造的日子所說的這些話。

「萬軍之耶和華說，『在奠立萬軍之耶和華殿的根基那天，眾先知都在場。現今聽見這些先知之言的人啊，你們要剛強，以便可以建造聖殿！

“萬軍之耶和華這樣說：‘在萬軍之耶和華的殿奠立了根基，預備建造的日子，你們這些在當時聽過眾先知親口宣告這些話的人，現在你們的手務要剛強。

萬軍之永恆主這麼說：『當萬軍之永恆主的殿奠了根基、以便建造殿堂的日子，你們這些在當日聽見了神言人親口說出這些話的人哪，你們的手務要剛強！

「萬軍之耶和華如此說：『在奠定萬軍之耶和華殿的根基、要建造聖殿的日子，你們這些當時聽見眾先知親口說這些話的人，願你們的手堅固！

萬軍之耶和華云、建耶和華殿、立基之時、先知在焉、爾曹是日聞其口出之言、其強乃手、

萬有之主耶和華又曰、我萬有之主耶和華有殿、人建址基、復興版築、當時先知有言、爾其聽之、以壯乃心、

萬有之主如是云、萬有之主之室即殿、人築其基址、以復建之、當日諸先知口中有言、以勵爾、爾曹當時聞之者、當自奮勇勉力、奮勇勉力原文作堅爾手下同

This is what the Lord Almighty says:“ Now hear these words,‘ Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty.

The Lord who rules over all says to his people,“ Now listen to these words,‘ Let your hands be strong so that you can rebuild the temple.’ This also was said by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. They spoke to you when the work on my temple began again.

Thus says the Lord of hosts:“ Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

The LORD of Armies says this:“ Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the LORD of Armies.

“ The Lord of armies says this:‘ Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of armies was laid, so that the temple might be built.

“ Thus says the Lord of hosts:‘ Let your hands be strong, You who have been hearing in these days These words by the mouth of the prophets, Who spoke in the day the foundation was laid For the house of the Lord of hosts, That the temple might be built.

Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.

The Lord of Hosts says this:“ Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of Hosts.

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.

“ The LORD who rules over all also says,‘ Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the LORD who rules over all, so that the temple might be built.

Yahweh of Armies says:“ Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of Armies was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.

For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!

At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.

Say to those with fearful hearts,“ Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.

Then David continued,“ Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.

“ Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord.

Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!

But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’“ For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land.I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

Here is another message that came to me from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“ Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.