[1] Ask rain from Yahweh at the time of the late rain—Yahweh who makes the storm clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, the plant in the field to each man. [2] For the teraphim speak wickedness, And the diviners behold false visions And speak worthless dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people journey like sheep; They are afflicted because there is no shepherd. [3] “My anger burns against the shepherds, And I will visit punishment upon the male goats; For Yahweh of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, And will make them like His splendid horse in battle. [4] “From them will come the cornerstone, From them the tent peg, From them the bow of battle, From them every good taskmaster, all of them together. [5] “And they will be as mighty men, Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; And they will battle, for Yahweh will be with them; And the riders on horses will be put to shame. [6] “I will make the house of Judah mighty, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will cause them to return, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am Yahweh their God, and I will answer them. [7] “And Ephraim will be like a mighty man, And their heart will be glad as if from wine; Indeed, their children will see it and be glad; Their heart will rejoice in Yahweh. [8] “I will whistle for them to gather them together, For I have redeemed them; And they will be as numerous as they were before. [9] “And I will sow them among the peoples, And they will remember Me in far countries, And they with their children will live and turn back. [10] “Then I will cause them to return from the land of Egypt And gather them from Assyria; And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon Until no room can be found for them. [11] “And they will pass through the sea of distress, And He will strike the waves in the sea, So that all the depths of the Nile will dry up; And the pride of Assyria will be brought down, And the scepter of Egypt will depart. [12] “And I will make them mighty in Yahweh, And in His name they will walk,” declares Yahweh.
