1Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field. (De 11:14; Ps 135:7; Jer 14:22; Eze 34:26)2For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (Ge 31:19; Jer 23:25; Eze 34:5; Hab 2:18)3“My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders;[1] for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. (Eze 34:10; Eze 34:17; Zep 2:7)4From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler—all of them together. (Ps 118:22; Isa 22:23; Zec 9:8)5They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses. (Ps 20:7; Zec 9:15)6“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them. (Isa 14:1; Jer 3:18; Zec 8:7; Zec 8:13; Zec 10:12; Zec 13:9)7Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord. (Zec 9:15)8“I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before. (Isa 5:26; Jer 31:10; Eze 36:10; Eze 36:37; Ho 1:11)9Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return. (De 30:1; Eze 6:9; Ho 2:23)10I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria, and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, till there is no room for them. (Isa 11:11; Isa 27:13; Isa 49:20; Ho 11:11; Mic 7:14)11He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. (Isa 11:15; Eze 30:13; Am 8:8)12I will make them strong in the Lord, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the Lord. (Mic 4:5; Zec 10:6)
1Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.2The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.3‘My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock, the people of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle.4From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle-bow, from him every ruler.5Together they[1] will be like warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.6‘I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.7The Ephraimites will become like warriors, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.8I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before.9Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return.10I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them.11They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will be brought down and Egypt’s sceptre will pass away.12I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,’ declares the Lord.
Zechariah 10
King James Version
1Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.2For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.3Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.4Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.5And they shall be as mighty men , which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.6And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.7And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man , and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it , and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.8I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.9And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.10I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.11And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.12And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.
1People of Judah, ask the LORD to send rain in the spring. He is the one who sends the thunderstorms. He sends down showers of rain on all people. He gives everyone the plants in the fields.2Other gods tell lies. Those who practise magic see visions that aren’t true. They tell dreams that fool people. They give comfort that doesn’t do any good. So the people wander around like sheep. They are crushed because they don’t have a shepherd.3The LORD who rules over all says, ‘I am very angry with the shepherds. I will punish the leaders. The LORD will take care of his flock. They are the people of Judah. He will make them like a proud horse in battle.4The most important building stone will come from the tribe of Judah. The tent stake will also come from it. And the bow that is used in battle will come from it. In fact, every ruler will come from it.5Together they will be like warriors in battle. They will trample their enemies into the mud of the streets. The LORD will be with them. So they will fight against the horsemen and put them to shame.6‘I will make the family of Judah strong. I will save the tribes of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have tender love for them. It will be as if I had not sent them away. I am the LORD their God. I will help them.7The people of Ephraim will become like warriors. Their hearts will be glad as if they were drinking wine. Their children will see it and be filled with joy. I will make their hearts glad.8I will signal for my people to come, and I will gather them in. I will set them free. There will be as many of them as before.9I have scattered them among the nations. But in lands far away they will remember me. They and their children will be kept alive. And they will return.10I will bring them back from Egypt. I will gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon. There will not be enough room for them.11They will pass through a sea of trouble. The stormy sea will calm down. All the deep places in the River Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will be brought down. Egypt’s right to rule will disappear.12I will make my people strong. They will live in safety because of me,’ announces the LORD.