Monday in Season after Pentecost

10Verse 10. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11Verse 11. “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling. 12Verse 12. If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests. 13Verse 13. So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered. 14Verse 14. Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled. 15Verse 15. Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD, 16Verse 16. from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths, there were but twenty. 17Verse 17. I struck you— all the work of your hands— with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD. 18Verse 18. Consider carefully from this day forward — from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid — consider carefully: 19Verse 19. Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”

1Verse 1. Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: 2Verse 2. “So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me. 3Verse 3. I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply. 4Verse 4. Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth, 5Verse 5. the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary? 6Verse 6. Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds, 7Verse 7. he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’ 8Verse 8. He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night. 9Verse 9. The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him. 10Verse 10. His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth. 11Verse 11. The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.