1 In the second year of Darius king [of Persia], in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by means of Haggai the prophet [in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity] to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,

2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say, The time is not yet come that the [1]Lord’s house should be rebuilt [although Cyrus had ordered it done eighteen years before]. ⓐ