Zacharias 10

1 Ask you of the Lord rain in season, the early and the latter: the Lord has given bright signs, and will give them abundant rain, to every one grass in the field.

Ask for rain from Yahweh in the season of the spring rain— Yahweh who makes thunderstorms— and he gives rain showers to everyone and vegetation in the field.

2 For the speakers have uttered grievous things, and the diviners [have ] [seen] false visions, and they have spoken false dreams, they have given vain comfort: therefore have they fallen away like sheep, and been afflicted, because there was no healing.

For household idols speak falsely; the diviners envision a lie; they tell deceitful dreams and give empty comfort, so they wander like sheep and suffer because there is no shepherd.

3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I will visit the lambs; and the Lord God Almighty shall visit his flock, the house of Juda, and he shall make them as his goodly horse in war.

“My wrath burns against the shepherds; it is the male goats—the leaders—that I will punish. Yahweh of hosts will also attend to his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like his warhorse in battle!

4 And from him he looked, and from him he set [the battle in order], and from him [came] the bow in anger, [and] from him shall come forth every oppressor together.

From Judah will come the cornerstone; from him will come the tent peg; from him will come the war bow; from him will come every ruler together.

5 And they shall be as warriors treading clay in the ways in war; and they shall set the battle in array, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame.

They will be like warriors who trample their enemies into the mud of the streets in battle; they will make war, for Yahweh is with them, and they will shame those who ride warhorses.

6 And I will strengthen the house of Juda, and save the house of Joseph, and I will settle them; because I have loved them: and they shall be as [if] I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.

I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph; for I will restore them and have mercy on them. They will be as though I had not cast them off, for I am Yahweh their God, and I will respond to them.

7 And they shall be as the warriors of Ephraim, and their heart shall rejoice as with wine: and their children also shall see [it], and be glad; and their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.

Then Ephraim will be like a warrior, and their hearts will rejoice as with wine; their children will see and rejoice. Their hearts will rejoice in me!

8 I will make a sign to them, and gather them in; for I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied according to their number before.

I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will rescue them, and they will become as great as they previously were!

9 And I will sow them amongst the people; and they that are afar off shall remember me: they shall nourish their children, and they shall return.

I sowed them among the peoples, but they will remember me in distant countries, so they and their children will live and return.

10 And I will bring them again from the land of Egypt, and I will gather them in from amongst the Assyrians; and I will bring them into the land of Galaad and to Libanus; and there shall not even one of them be left behind.

For I will restore them from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to the land of Gilead and Lebanon until there is no more room for them.

11 And they shall pass through a narrow sea, they shall strike the waves in the sea, and all the deep places of the rivers shall be dried up: and all the pride of the Assyrians shall be taken away, and the sceptre of Egypt shall be removed.

I will pass through the sea of their affliction; I will strike the waves of that sea and will dry up all the depths of the Nile. The majesty of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will go away from the Egyptians.

12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord their God; and they shall boast in his name, says the Lord.

I will strengthen them in myself, and they will walk in my name—this is Yahweh's declaration.”