Ask arain
from the LORD
at the time
of the spring
rain
-- The LORD
who bmakes
the 1storm
clouds
; And He will give
them cshowers
of rain
, vegetation
in the field
to each man
.
For the ateraphim speak
1iniquity
, And the bdiviners
see
2lying
visions
And tell
cfalse
dreams
; They comfort
in vain
. Therefore
the people 3wander
like
dsheep
, They are afflicted
, because
there
is no
shepherd
.
"My aanger is kindled
against
the shepherds
, And I will punish
the 1male
goats
; For the LORD
of hosts
has bvisited
His flock
, the house
of Judah
, And will make
them like His majestic
horse
in battle
.
"From 1them will come the acornerstone
, From 1them the tent
peg
, From 1them the bow
of bbattle
, From 1them every
2ruler
, all of them together
.
"They will be as mighty men
, aTreading
down
the enemy in the mire
of the streets
in battle
; And they will fight
, for the LORD
will be with them; And the briders
on horses
will be put
to shame
.
"I will astrengthen the house
of Judah
, And I will bsave
the house
of Joseph
, And I will 1 cbring
them back
, Because
I have
had
dcompassion
on them; And they will be as though
I had enot rejected
them, For I am the LORD
their God
and I will fanswer
them.
"Ephraim will be like a mighty
man
, And their heart
will be glad
as if
from wine
; Indeed, their achildren
will see
it and be glad
, 1Their heart
will rejoice
in the LORD
.
"I will awhistle for them to gather
them together, For I have redeemed
them; And they will be as bnumerous
as they 1 cwere before.
"When I 1scatter them among the peoples
, They will aremember
Me in far
countries
, And they with their children
will live
and come
back
.
"I will abring them back
from the land
of Egypt
And gather
them from Assyria
; And I will bring
them into the land
of bGilead
and Lebanon
1Until cno
room can be found
for them.
"And they will pass through the asea
of distress
And He will strike
the waves
in the sea
, So that all
the depths
of the bNile
will dry
up; And the pride
of cAssyria
will be brought
down
And the scepter
of dEgypt
will depart
.
"And I will astrengthen them in the LORD
, And in His name
bthey will walk
," declares
the LORD
.