| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1"Ask the LORD for rain in the spring — the LORD who fashions lightning thunderstorms, giving rain showers to mankind along with grain in the fields. | 1Ask the LORD for rain in the season of the late spring rains--the LORD who causes thunderstorms--and he will give everyone showers of rain and green growth in the field. |
| 2Truly the family idols talk nonsense and the diviners discern lies, describing delusional dreams. Since their comfort is vacuous, they wander off on their own like sheep, because there is no shepherd. | 2For the household gods have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd. |
| 3"Against the shepherds my anger rises— I am punishing the leaders also, because the LORD of the Heavenly Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah, appointing them as his royal war horse for battle. | 3I am enraged at the shepherds and will punish the lead-goats. For the LORD who rules over all has brought blessing to his flock, the house of Judah, and will transform them into his majestic warhorse. |
| 4From them arises the cornerstone and tent peg, from them the battle bow, from them arise all sorts of oppressive rulers. | 4From him will come the cornerstone, the wall peg, the battle bow, and every ruler. |
| 5They will be like mighty soldiers who trample mud in the streets during battle. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and the opposing horsemen will be confused. | 5And they will be like warriors trampling the mud of the streets in battle. They will fight, for the LORD will be with them, and will defeat the enemy cavalry. |
| 6"I will fortify the house of Judah, and the house of Joseph I will save. I will surely bring them back, because I care about them. They will be as if I had never cast them away. Since I am the LORD their God, I will answer them. | 6"I (says the LORD) will strengthen the kingdom of Judah and deliver the people of Joseph and will bring them back because of my compassion for them. They will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and therefore I will hear them. |
| 7"The people of Ephraim will become like mighty soldiers; they will be glad, like those who have wine. Their children will see this and rejoice; their hearts will find joy in the Lord. | 7The Ephraimites will be like warriors and will rejoice as if they had drunk wine. Their children will see it and rejoice; they will celebrate in the things of the LORD. |
| 8I will whistle for them, gathering them together, because I have redeemed them, and they will multiply as they were before. | 8I will signal for them and gather them, for I have already redeemed them; then they will become as numerous as they were before. |
| 9I will scatter them among the nations, and so they will remember me in distant countries. They will rear their children, and they will return. | 9Though I scatter them among the nations, they will remember in far-off places--they and their children will sprout forth and return. |
| 10I will bring them once again out of the land of Egypt, gathering them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, but there will not be enough space for them. | 10I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to the lands of Gilead and Lebanon, for there will not be enough room for them in their own land. |
| 11They will pass through the sea of affliction, and they will strike the waves in that sea. All of the depths of the Nile will evaporate, Assyria's arrogance will be brought down low, and the ruling power of Egypt will disappear. | 11The LORD will cross the sea of storms and will calm its turbulence. The depths of the Nile will dry up, the pride of Assyria will be humbled, and the domination of Egypt will be no more. |
| 12"I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they will march here and there in his name," declares the LORD. | 12Thus I will strengthen them by my power, and they will walk about in my name," says the LORD. |
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