1 A sk the Lord for rain in the spring time. It is the Lord Who makes the storm clouds. He gives rain to men, and gives vegetables in the field to every one.

Ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter or spring rain. It is the Lord Who makes lightnings which usher in the rain and give men showers, and grass to everyone in the field.

2 T he false gods say what is not true. Those who use their secret ways tell lies about the false dreams they have seen. Their comfort means nothing. So the people go from place to place like sheep and are troubled because they have no shepherd.

For the teraphim (household idols) have spoken vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and the diviners have seen a lie and the dreamers have told false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people go their way like sheep; they are afflicted and hurt because there is no shepherd.

3 “ My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders. For the Lord of All has visited His flock, the people of Judah, and will make them like His proud horse in battle.

My anger is kindled against the shepherds and I will punish the goat leaders, for the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His beautiful and majestic horse in the battle.

4 F rom them will come the cornerstone. From them will come the tent nail. From them will come the bow of battle. And from them will come every ruler.

Out of him shall come forth the Cornerstone, out of him the tent peg, out of him the battle bow; every ruler shall proceed from him.

5 T ogether they will be like powerful men, crushing under foot those who hate them into the mud of the streets. They will fight and win the battle against the horsemen because the Lord is with them.

And they shall be like mighty men treading 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 and put to shame.

6 I will give strength to the family of Judah. I will save the family of Joseph, and I will bring them back, because I have loving-pity on them. They will be as if I had not turned away from them. For I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them.

And I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back and cause them to dwell securely, for I have mercy, loving-kindness, and compassion for them. They shall be as though I had not cast them off, for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.

7 E phraim will be like a powerful man. Their hearts will be glad as with wine. And their children will see it and be glad. Their hearts will have joy in the Lord.

Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall rejoice as through wine; yes, their children shall see it and rejoice; their hearts shall feel great delight and glory triumphantly in the Lord!

8 I will call them together, for I have saved them and set them free. And they will be as many as they were before.

I will hiss for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall increase as they have increased.

9 E ven when I send them everywhere among the nations, they will remember Me in far countries. They and their children will live and return.

And though I sow them among the nations, yet they shall remember Me in far countries, and with their children they shall live and shall return.

10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon until there is no more room for them.

I will bring them home again from the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria, and I will bring them into the land Gilead and Lebanon, and room enough shall not be found for them.

11 W hen they pass through the sea of trouble, I will hold back the waves in the sea. The whole Nile River will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and Egypt will lose its power.

And will pass through the sea of distress and affliction; and He will smite down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up and put to shame; and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down and the scepter or rod shall pass away.

12 I will make My people Israel strong in the Lord, and they will walk in His name,” says the Lord.

And I will strengthen in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down and glory in His name, says the Lord.