Haggai 1:4-5; 2:7-9 New English Translation
4 “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses[a] while my temple is in ruins?[b] 5 Here then, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing.[c]
a. It implies decoration and luxury.The impropriety of the people living in such
lavish accommodations while the temple lay unfinished is striking.
b. Haggai 1:4 tn Heb “Is it time for you, [yes] you, to live in paneled houses,
while this house is in ruins”; NASB “lies desolate”; NIV “remains a ruin.”
c. Haggai 1:5 tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways” (see 2:15, 18);
traditionally “Consider your ways” (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB).
7 I will also shake up all the nations, and they[a] will offer their treasures;[b] then I will fill this temple with glory.” So the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said. 8 “The silver and gold will be mine,” decrees the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 “The future splendor of this temple will be greater than that of former times,”[c] the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared. “And in this place I will give peace,” decrees the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
a. Cf. ASV “the precious things”; NASB “the wealth”; NRSV “the treasure.”
b. Haggai 2:9 tn Heb “greater will be the latter splendor of this house than the
former”; NAB “greater will be the future glory.”
c. Haggai 2:9 tn In the Hebrew text there is an implicit play on words in the
clause “in this place [i.e., Jerusalem] I will give peace”: in םִליַרוּשְׁ ָ י
(yerushalayim) there will be שׁלוֹם) ָshalom)