¹⁸ But he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and kept his lord's money in a secret place.

⁹ He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.

¹³ The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

¹⁴ A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed.

¹⁵ The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin: lifting it again to his mouth is a weariness to him.

¹⁶ The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.

² These are the words of the Lord of armies: These people say, The time has not come for building the Lord's house.

³ Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

⁴ Is it a time for you to be living in roofed houses while this house is a waste?

¹⁰ If only there was one among you who would see that the doors were shut, so that you might not put a light to the fire on my altar for nothing! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of armies, and I will not take an offering from your hands.

²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, here is your pound, which I put away in a cloth;

¹² So that you may not be slow in heart, but may take as your example those to whom God has given their heritage, because of their faith and their long waiting.

⁸ For if you have these things in good measure, they will make you fertile and full of fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.