1Ask rain from Yahweh at the time of the spring rain—Yahweh who makes the storm clouds; and he will give them showers of rain, to each one vegetation in the field.
2For the household gods speak iniquity, and the diviners see falsehood; they tell deceitful dreams and comfort with vapor. Therefore they wander like a flock; they are afflicted because there is no shepherd.
3Against the shepherds my anger has burned, and upon the leaders I will bring punishment; for Yahweh of hosts has attended to his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic horse in battle.
4From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler—all together.
5And they will be like warriors trampling the mud of the streets in battle; they will fight, for Yahweh is with them, and the riders of horses will be put to shame.
6And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and the house of Joseph I will save; I will bring them back, for 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.
7And Ephraim will be like a warrior, and their heart will rejoice as with wine; their children will see it and rejoice, their heart will exult in Yahweh.
8I will whistle for them and gather them, for I have redeemed them; and they will be as numerous as they once were.
9Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in the distant places they will remember me; and they will keep their children alive, and they will return.
10And I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, and from Assyria I will gather them; I will bring them to the land of Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough found for them.
11And he will pass through the sea of distress, and strike the waves in the sea, and 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.
12And I will strengthen them in Yahweh, and in his name they will walk about—the utterance of Yahweh.
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