Hagai (Hag) 2

1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, this word ofAdonaicame through Hagai the prophet:

2 “Speak now to Z’rubavel the son of Sh’alti’el, governor of Y’hudah, and to Y’hoshua the son of Y’hotzadak, thecohen hagadol, and to the rest of the people; say this to them:

3 ‘“Who among you is left that saw this house in its former glory? And how does it look to you now? It seems like nothing to you, doesn’t it?

4 Nevertheless, Z’rubavel, take courage now,” saysAdonai; “and take courage, Y’hoshua the son of Y’hotzadak, thecohen hagadol; and take courage, all you people of the land,” saysAdonai; “and get to work! For I am with you,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot.

5 “This is in keeping with the word that I promised in a covenant with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains with you, so don’t be afraid!”

6 For this is whatAdonai-Tzva’otsays: “It won’t be long before one more time I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land;

7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasures of all the nations will flow in; and I will fill this house with glory,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot.

8 “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot.

9 “The glory of this new house will surpass that of the old,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot, “and in this place I will grantshalom,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot.’”

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of Daryavesh, this word ofAdonaicame through Hagai the prophet:

11 “Here is whatAdonai-Tzva’otsays: ‘Ask thecohanimwhat theTorahsays about this:

12 if someone carries meat that has been set aside as holy in a fold of his cloak; and then he lets his cloak touch bread, stew, wine, olive oil or any other food; does that food become holy too?’” Thecohanimanswered, “No.”

13 Then Hagai asked, “If someone who is unclean from having had contact with a corpse touches any of these [food items], will they become unclean?” Thecohanimanswered, “They become unclean.”

14 Hagai then said, “‘That is the condition of this people, that is the condition of this nation before me,’ saysAdonai, ‘and that is the condition of everything their hands produce; so that anything they offer there is unclean.

15 Now, please, from this day on, keep this in mind: before you began laying stones on each other to rebuild the temple ofAdonai,

16 throughout that whole time, when someone approached a twenty-measure pile [of grain], he found only ten; and when he came to the winepress to draw out fifty measures, there were only twenty.

17 I struck you with blasting winds, mildew and hail on everything your hands produced; but you still wouldn’t return to me,’ saysAdonai.

18 ‘So please keep this in mind, from this day on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation ofAdonai’s temple was laid, consider this:

19 there’s no longer any seed in the barn, is there? and the vine, fig tree, pomegranate tree and olive tree have produced nothing yet, right? However, from this day on, I will bless you.’”

20 The word ofAdonaicame a second time to Hagai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, as follows:

21 “Tell Z’rubavel, governor of Y’hudah, ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth,

22 I will overturn the thrones of kingdoms, I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and I will overturn the chariots and the people riding in them; the horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

23 When that day comes,’ saysAdonai-Tzva’ot, ‘I will take you, Z’rubavel, my servant, the son of Sh’alti’el,’ saysAdonai, ‘and wear you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ saysAdonai-Tzva’ot.”

Tz’fanyah (Zep) 1

1 This is the word ofAdonaithat came to Tz’fanyah the son of Kushi, the son of G’dalyah, the son of Amaryah, the son of Hizkiyah, during the reign of Yoshiyahu the son of Amon, king of Y’hudah:

2 “I will completely sweep away everything

off the face of the land,” saysAdonai.

3 “I will sweep away humans and animals,

the birds in the air and the fish in the sea,

also the wicked and what makes them stumble;

I will wipe humanity off the land,” saysAdonai.

4 “I will stretch out my hand over Y’hudah

and all those living in Yerushalayim.

I will wipe every remnant of Ba‘al from this place,

the idol-serving priests and even their names,

5 those worshipping heaven’s army on the roofs,

also those who worship and swear byAdonai

but swear by Malkam as well,

6 those who turned away from followingAdonai,

and those who haven’t soughtAdonai

or consulted him at all.”

7 Keep silent beforeAdonaiElohim,

for the Day ofAdonaiis near.

Adonaihas prepared a sacrifice;

he has set apart those he invited.

8 When the time comes forAdonai’s sacrifice —

“I will punish the leaders

and the sons of the king,

also those who dress in foreign clothes.

9 On the same day I will also punish

all who jump over the threshold

to fill the house of their master

with violence and deceit.

10 Also on that day,” saysAdonai,

“a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,

wailing from the city’s Second Quarter

and a loud crash from the hills.

11 Wail, you who live down in the hollow,

because all the merchants are destroyed,

all who trade with silver are ruined.

12 When that time comes, I will search

Yerushalayim with lamps

and punish those who are [smug and thick,

like wine] left too long on its dregs,

who say to themselves, ‘Adonaiwill do nothing —

neither good nor bad.’

13 For this, their wealth will be plundered;

and their houses will be destroyed.

Yes, they will build houses but not live in them;

they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.”

14 The great Day ofAdonaiis near,

near and coming very quickly;

Hear the sound of the Day ofAdonai!

When it’s here, even a warrior will cry bitterly.

15 That Day is a Day of fury,

a Day of trouble and distress,

a Day of waste and desolation,

a Day of darkness and gloom,

a Day of clouds and thick fog,

16 a Day of theshofarand battle-cry

against the fortified cities

and against the high towers [on the city walls].

17 “I will bring such distress on people

that they will grope their way like the blind,

because they have sinned againstAdonai.

Their blood will be poured out like dust

and their bowels like dung.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold

will be able to save them.

On the day ofAdonai’s fury,

the whole land will be destroyed

in the fire of his jealousy.

For he will make an end, a horrible end,

of all those living in the land.”

Tz’fanyah (Zep) 2

1 Gather together, gather yourselves,

nation devoid of shame;

2 before the decree takes effect,

and the day comes when one passes like chaff;

beforeAdonai’s fierce anger

comes on you,

before the day ofAdonai’s anger

comes on you.

3 SeekAdonai, all you humble in the land,

you who exercise his justice;

seek righteousness, seek humility —

you might be hidden

on the day ofAdonai’s anger.

4 For ‘Azah will be abandoned,

Ashkelon will be desolate,

they will evacuate Ashdod at noon,

and ‘Ekron will be uprooted.

5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,

the nation of the K’reti!

The word ofAdonaiis against you,

Kena‘an, land of the P’lishtim:

“I will destroy you; no one will be left.”

6 The seacoast will be reduced to pastures,

meadows for shepherds, pens for sheep;

7 and the coast will belong to the remnant

of the house of Y’hudah.

They will pasture their flocks there

and in the evening lie down

in the houses of Ashkelon.

ForAdonaitheir God will remember them

and restore their fortunes.

8 “I have heard the insults of Mo’av

and the taunts of the people of ‘Amon,

how they reviled my people

and boasted of expanding their territory.

9 Therefore, as I live,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot,

the God of Isra’el,

“Mo’av will become like S’dom

and the people of ‘Amon like ‘Amora,

a land covered with nettles and salt pits,

desolate forever.

The remnant of my people will plunder them,

the survivors in my nation will inherit them.”

10 This is what they will earn for their pride,

for having reviled and boasted against

the people ofAdonai-Tzva’ot.

11 Adonaiwill be fearsome against them,

for he will make all the earth’s gods waste away.

Then all the coasts and islands of the nations

will worship him, each from its place.

12 “You too, Ethiopians,

will be put to death by my sword.”

13 He will stretch out his hand against the north;

he will destroy Ashur;

he will make Ninveh desolate,

as dry as the desert.

14 Herds will lie down in it,

and all kinds of wild animals too —

jackdaws and owls will roost on her columns,

voices screeching in the windows,

desolation on the doorsteps,

for its cedarwork is stripped bare.

15 This is the city, once so joyful,

whose people felt themselves secure,

who used to say to herself,

“I am [the greatest]! I have no rival.”

What a ruin she has become —

a place for wild animals to lie down!

Everyone passing by her

hisses and shakes his fist!

Tz’fanyah (Zep) 3

1 Woe to her who is filthy, defiled;

woe to the tyrant city!

2 She wouldn’t listen to the voice,

wouldn’t receive correction;

she didn’t trust inAdonai,

didn’t draw close to her God.

3 Her leaders there with her are roaring lions,

her judges desert wolves,

who don’t leave even a bone for tomorrow.

4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men;

hercohanimprofane the holy

and do violence toTorah.

5 Adonai, who is righteous, is there among them;

he never does anything wrong.

Every morning he renders his judgment,

every morning, without fail;

yet the wrongdoer knows no shame.

6 “I have cut off nations,

their battlements are ruined;

I have made their streets ruins,

no one walks in them.

Their cities are destroyed,

abandoned, unpeopled.

7 I said, ‘Surely now you will fear me,

you will receive correction’;

so that her place will not be cut off

by all the punishments I brought on her.

But no, they only grew all the more eager

to be corrupt in all that they do.

8 Therefore, wait for me,” saysAdonai,

“for the day when I rise to witness against you,

when I decide to assemble nations,

to gather kingdoms together,

to pour on them my indignation,

all my furious anger;

for all the earth will be consumed

in the fire of my passion.

9 For then I will change the peoples,

so that they will have pure lips,

to call on the name ofAdonai, all of them,

and serve him with one accord.

10 Even from beyond Ethiopia’s rivers

they will bring those who petition me,

the daughter of my dispersed as my offering.

11 When that day comes, you will not be ashamed

of everything you have done,

committing wrongs against me;

for then I will remove from among you

those of you who take joy in arrogance;

you will no longer be full of pride

on my holy mountain.

12 I will leave among you

a poor and afflicted people,

who will find their refuge

in the name ofAdonai.”

13 The remnant of Isra’el will not do wrong,

nor will they speak lies,

nor will there be found in their mouths

a tongue given over to deceit;

for they will be able to graze and lie down,

with no one to disturb them.

14 Sing, daughter of Tziyon!

Shout, Isra’el!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

daughter of Yerushalayim!

15 Adonaihas removed the judgments against you,

he has expelled your enemy;

the king of Isra’el,Adonai,

is right there with you.

You no longer need to fear

that anything bad will happen.

16 On that day, it will be said

to Yerushalayim,

“Do not fear, Tziyon!

don’t let your hands droop down.

17 Adonaiyour God is right there with you,

as a mighty savior.

He will rejoice over you and be glad,

he will be silent in his love,

he will shout over you with joy.”

18 “I will gather those of yours

who grieve over the appointed feasts

and bear the burden of reproach

[because they cannot keep them].

19 When that time comes, I will deal

with all those who oppress you.

I will save her who is lame,

gather her who was driven away,

and make them whose shame spread over the earth

the object of praise and renown.

20 When that time comes, I will bring you in;

when that time comes, I will gather you

and make you the object of fame and praise

among all the peoples of the earth —

when I restore your fortunes

before your very eyes,” saysAdonai.

Havakuk (Hab) 1

1 This is the prophecy which Havakuk the prophet saw:

2 Adonai, how long must I cry

without your hearing?

“Violence!” I cry to you,

but you don’t save.

3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing,

why do you permit oppression?

Pillage and cruelty confront me,

so that strife and discord prevail.

4 ThereforeTorahis not followed;

justice never gets rendered,

because the wicked fence in the righteous.

This is why justice comes out perverted.

5 “Look around among the nations!

What you see will completely astound you!

For what is going to be done in your days

you will not believe, even when you are told.

6 I am raising up the Kasdim,

that bitter and impetuous nation,

who march far and wide over the earth

to seize homes that are not their own.

7 Fearsome and dreadful they are;

their rules and strength come from themselves.

8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,

fiercer than wolves at night.

Their cavalry gallop in from afar,

flying like vultures rushing to feed.

9 All of them come for violence,

their faces set eagerly forward,

scooping up captives like sand.

10 They scoff at kings;

princes they deride.

They laugh at any fortress;

they pile up earth and take it.

11 Then they sweep on like the wind,

but they become guilty,

because they make their strength their god.”

12 Adonai, haven’t you existed forever?

My God, my holy one, we will not die.

Adonai, you appointed them to execute judgment.

Rock, you commissioned them to correct us.

13 Your eyes are too pure to see evil,

you cannot countenance oppression.

So why do you countenance traitors?

Why are you silent when evil people

swallow up those more righteous than they?

14 You make people like fish in the sea,

like reptiles that have no ruler.

15 The evil haul them all up with their hooks,

catch them in their fish net,

or gather them in their dragnet.

Then they rejoice and make merry,

16 offering sacrifices to their fishnet

and burning incense to their dragnet;

because through them they live in luxury,

with plenty of food to eat.

17 Should they, therefore, keep emptying their nets?

Should they keep slaughtering the nations without pity?

Havakuk (Hab) 2

1 I will stand at my watchpost;

I will station myself on the rampart.

I will look to see what [God] will say through me

and what I will answer when I am reproved.

2 ThenAdonaianswered me; he said,

“Write down the vision clearly on tablets,

so that even a runner can read it.

3 For the vision is meant for its appointed time;

it speaks of the end, and it does not lie.

It may take a while, but wait for it;

it will surely come, it will not delay.

4 “Look at the proud: he is inwardly not upright;

but the righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness.

5 Truly, wine is treacherous;

the arrogant will not live at peace

but keeps expanding his desires like Sh’ol;

like death, he can never be satisfied;

he keeps collecting all the nations for himself,

rallying to himself all the peoples.

6 Won’t all these take up taunting him

and say about him, in mocking riddles,

‘Woe to him who amasses other people’s wealth! —

how long must it go on? —

and to him who adds to himself the weight

of goods taken in pledge!

7 Won’t your own creditors suddenly stand,

won’t those who make you tremble wake up?

You will become their spoil.

8 Because you plundered many nations,

all the rest of the peoples will plunder you;

because of the bloodshed and violence done

to the land, the city and all who live there.

9 “‘Woe to him who seeks unjust gain for his household,

putting his nest on the heights,

in order to be safe from the reach of harm.

10 By scheming to destroy many peoples,

you have brought shame to your house

and forfeited your life.

11 For the very stones will cry out from the wall,

and a beam in the framework will answer them.

12 “‘Woe to him who builds a city with blood

and founds a town on injustice,

13 so that people toil for what will be burned up,

and nations exhaust themselves to no purpose.

Isn’t all this fromAdonai-Tzva’ot?

14 For the earth will be as full

of the knowledge ofAdonai’s glory

as water covering the sea.

15 “‘Woe to him who has his neighbor drink,

adds his own poison and makes him drunk,

in order to see him naked.

16 You are filled with shame, not glory.

You, drink too, and stagger!

The cup ofAdonai’s right hand

will be turned against you;

your shame will exceed your glory.

17 For the violence done to the L’vanon

will overwhelm you,

and the destruction of the wild animals

will terrify you;

because of the bloodshed and violence done

to the land, the city and all who live there.’”

18 What good is an idol, once its maker has shaped it,

a cast metal image and a teacher of lies,

that its maker puts his trust in it,

and goes on making non-gods, unable to talk?

19 Woe to him who tells a piece of wood, “Wake up!”

or a speechless stone, “Rouse yourself!”

Can this thing teach? Why, it’s covered with gold and silver,

without the slightest breath in it!

20 ButAdonaiis in his holy temple;

let all the earth be silent before him.

Havakuk (Hab) 3

1 This is a prayer of Havakuk the prophet about mistakes:

2 Adonai, I have heard the report about you.

Adonai, I am awed by your deeds.

Bring your work to life in our own age,

make it known in our own time;

but in anger, remember compassion.

3 God comes from Teman,

the Holy One from Mount Pa’ran.(Selah)

His splendor covers the sky,

and his praise fills the earth.

4 His brightness is like the sun,

rays come forth from his hand —

that is where his power is concealed.

5 Before him goes pestilence,

and close behind, the plague.

6 When he stands up, the earth shakes;

when he looks, the nations tremble,

the eternal mountains are smashed to pieces,

the ancient hills sink down;

the ancient paths are his.

7 I saw trouble in the tents of Kushan

and the tent hangings shaking in the land of Midyan.

8 Adonai, is it against the rivers,

against the rivers that your anger is inflamed?

Is your fury directed at the sea?

Is that why you ride on your horses,

and drive your chariots to victory?

9 You brandish your naked bow

and order it filled with arrows.(Selah)

You split the earth with rivers.

10 The mountains see you and tremble;

a torrent of water streams by;

the deep thunders forth,

as it raises enormous waves.

11 The sun and moon stand still in the sky

at the light of your arrows speeding by,

at the gleam of your glittering spear.

12 In fury you stride across the land,

in anger you trample the nations.

13 You come out to save your people,

to save your anointed one;

you crush the head of the house of the wicked,

uncovering its foundation all the way to the neck.

14 With their own rods you pierce the head of their warriors,

who come like a whirlwind to scatter us,

who rejoice at the prospect

of devouring the poor in secret.

15 You tread down the sea with your horses,

churning up the mighty waters.

16 When I heard, my whole body trembled,

my lips shook at the sound;

weakness overcame my limbs,

my legs gave way beneath me.

But I wait calmly for the day of trouble,

when it comes upon our assailants.

17 For even if the fig tree doesn’t blossom,

and no fruit is on the vines,

even if the olive tree fails to produce,

and the fields yield no food at all,

even if the sheep vanish from the sheep pen,

and there are no cows in the stalls;

18 still, I will rejoice inAdonai,

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

19 ElohimAdonaiis my strength!

He makes me swift and sure-footed as a deer

and enables me to stride over my high places.

For the leader. With my stringed instruments.

Nachum (Nam) 1

1 This is a prophecy about Ninveh, the book of the vision of Nachum the Elkoshi:

2 Adonaiis a jealous and vengeful God.

Adonaiavenges; he knows how to be angry.

Adonaitakes vengeance on his foes

and stores up wrath for his enemies.

3 Adonaiis slow to anger, but great in power;

and he does not leave the guilty unpunished.

Adonai’s path is in the whirlwind and storm,

and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebukes the sea and leaves it dry,

he dries up all the rivers.

Bashan and the Karmel languish;

the flower of the L’vanon withers.

5 The mountains quake before him,

and the hills dissolve;

the earth collapses in his presence,

the world and everyone living in it.

6 Who can withstand his fury?

Who can endure his fierce anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire,

the rocks broken to pieces before him.

7 Adonaiis good,

a stronghold in time of trouble;

he takes care of those

who take refuge in him.

8 But with an overwhelming flood

he will make an end of [Ninveh’s] place,

and darkness will pursue his enemies.

9 What are you planning againstAdonai?

He is making an end [of it];

trouble will not arise a second time.

10 For like men drunk with liquor,

they will be burned up like tangled thorns,

like straw completely dry.

11 Out of you, [Ninveh,] he came,

one who plots evil againstAdonai,

who counsels wickedness.

12 Here is whatAdonaisays:

“Though they be many and strong,

they will be cut down, they will pass;

and though I have made you suffer,

I will make you suffer no more.

13 Now I will break his yoke from your necks

and snap the chains that bind you.

14 Adonaigave this order concerning you:

you will have no descendants to bear your name;

from the house of your god I will cut off

carved image and cast metal image;

I will prepare your grave,

because you are worthless.”

Nachum (Nam) 2

1 Look! On the mountains are the feet

of him who brings good news, proclaimingshalom.

Keep your festivals, Y’hudah, fulfill your vows;

for B’liya‘al will never pass through you again;

he has been completely destroyed.

2 A destroyer has risen in front of your face;

guard the ramparts, keep watch on the road,

brace yourselves, marshall all your strength.

3 ForAdonaiis restoring the pride of Ya‘akov,

along with the pride of Isra’el;

because plunderers have plundered them

and ravaged their vines.

4 The shields of [Ninveh’s] warriors are [dyed] red;

the soldiers are wearing scarlet.

The steel of the chariots flashes like fire

as they prepare for battle.

The cypress [spears] are poisoned.

5 The chariots rush madly about in the streets,

jostling each other in the open places;

their appearance is like torches,

they run here and there like lightning.

6 [The king of Ninveh] assigns his officers;

they stumble as they march;

they hurry to its wall and set up shields

to protect the battering ram.

7 The gates of the rivers are opened,

and the palace melts away.

8 Its mistress is stripped and carried away;

her handmaids moan, they sound like doves,

as they beat their breasts.

9 Ninveh is like a pool whose water ebbs away.

“Stop! Stop!” But none of it goes back.

10 Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!

There is no end to the treasure,

weighed down with precious things.

11 She is void, vacant; she is made bare.

Hearts are melting, knees are knocking;

every stomach is churning,

every face is drained of color.

12 What has become of the lion’s den,

the cave where the young lions fed,

where lion and lioness walked with their cubs,

and no one made them afraid?

13 The lion would tear up food for his cubs

and strangle prey for his lionesses;

he used to fill his caves with prey,

his lairs with torn flesh.

14 “I am against you,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot.

“Her chariots I will send up in smoke,

the sword will consume your lion cubs,

I will destroy your prey from the earth,

and your envoys’ voices will be heard no more.”

Nachum (Nam) 3

1 Woe to the city of blood, steeped in lies,

full of prey, with no end to the plunder!

2 The crack of the whip! The rattle of wheels!

Galloping horses, jolting chariots,

3 cavalry charging, swords flashing,

spears glittering —

and hosts of slain, heaps of bodies;

there is no end to the corpses;

they stumble over their corpses.

4 “Because of the continual whoring of this whore,

this alluring mistress of sorcery,

who sells nations with her whoring

and families with her sorcery;

5 I am against you,” saysAdonai-Tzva’ot.

“I will uncover your skirts on your face;

I will show the nations your private parts

and the kingdoms your shame.

6 I will pelt you with disgusting filth,

disgrace you and make a spectacle of you.

7 Then all who see you will recoil from you;

they will say, ‘Ninveh is destroyed!’

Who will mourn for her?

Where can I find people to comfort you?”

8 Are you any better than No-Amon,

located among the streams of the Nile,

with water all around her,

the flood her wall of defense?

9 Ethiopia and Egypt gave her boundless strength,

Put and Luvim were there to help you.

10 Still she went captive into exile,

her infants torn to pieces at every streetcorner.

Lots were drawn for her nobles,

and all her great men were bound in chains.

11 You too, [Ninveh,] will be drunk;

your senses completely overcome.

You too will seek a refuge

from the enemy.

12 All your fortifications will be

like fig trees with early ripening figs;

the moment they are shaken, they fall

into the mouth of the eater.

13 Look at your troops! They behave like women!

Your country’s gates are wide open to your foes;

fire has consumed their bars.

14 Draw water for the siege!

Strengthen your fortifications!

Go down in the clay, tread the mortar,

Take hold of the mold for bricks!

15 There the fire will burn you up;

and the sword will cut you down;

it will devour you like grasshoppers.

Make yourselves as many as grasshoppers,

Make yourselves as many as locusts!

16 You had more merchants than stars in the sky.

The locust sheds its skin and flies away.

17 Your guards are like grasshoppers,

your marshals like swarms of locusts,

which settle on the walls on a cold day,

but when the sun rises they fly away;

they vanish to no one knows where.

18 Your shepherds are slumbering, king of Ashur.

Your leaders are asleep.

Your people are scattered all over the mountains,

with no one to round them up.

19 Your wound cannot be healed.

Your injury is fatal.

Everyone hearing the news about you

claps his hands in joy over you.

For who has not been overwhelmed

by your relentless cruelty?