Yahweh Will Redeem Judah and Israel

1Ask 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.

2For 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.

4From [†]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.

5And 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.

6I 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.

7And 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.

8I will whistle for them to gather them together,

For I have redeemed them;

And they will be as numerous as they were [†]before.

9And 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.

10Then 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.

11And [†]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.

12And I will make them mighty in Yahweh,

And in His name they will walk,” declares Yahweh.