The Lord Restores His People

1Ask the LORD for rain

in the season of spring rain.

The LORD makes the rain clouds,

and He will give them showers of rain

and crops in the field for everyone.a

2For the idols speak falsehood,

and the divinersb see illusions;

they relate empty dreams

and offer empty comfort.

Therefore the people wander like sheep;

they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.

3My anger burns against the shepherds,

so I will punish the leaders.c

For the LORD of •Hosts has tended His flock,

the house of Judah;

He will make them like His majestic steed in battle.

4The cornerstoned will come from Judah.e

The tent pegf will come from them

and also the battle bowg and everyh ruler.

Together 5they will be like warriors in battle

trampling down the mud of the streets.

They will fight because the LORD is with them,

and they will put horsemen to shame.

6I will strengthen the house of Judah

and deliver the house of Joseph.i

I will restorej them

because I have compassion on them,

and they will be

as though I had never rejected them.k

For I am •Yahweh their God,

and I will answer them.

7Ephraiml will be like a warrior,

and their hearts will be glad as if with wine.

Their children will see it and be glad;m

their hearts will rejoice in Yahweh.

8I will whistlen and gather them

because I have redeemedo them;

they will be as numerous as they once were.

9Though I sowp them among the nations,

they will rememberq Me in the distant lands;

they and their children will live and return.

10I will bring them back from the land of Egypt

and gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to the land of Gileadr

and to Lebanon,

but it will not be enough for them.

11Yahwehs will pass through the sea of distress

and strike the waves of the sea;

all the depths of the Nile will dry up.t

The pride of Assyria will be brought down,

and the scepter of Egypt will come to an end.

12I will strengthenu them in Yahweh,

and they will marchv in His name —

this is Yahweh’s declaration.