< Zechariah 10 >
1 Ask of YHWH rain in the spring time, YHWH who makes lightnings, and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
They asked of Jehovah rain in a time of latter rain, Jehovah is making lightnings, And rain [in] showers He doth give to them. To each — the herb in the field.
2 For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore they go their way like sheep. They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
Because the teraphim did speak iniquity, And the diviners have seen a falsehood, And dreams of the vanity they speak, [With] vanity they give comfort, Therefore they have journeyed as a flock, They are afflicted, for there is no shepherd.
3 My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; For YHWH of hosts has visited his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
Against the shepherds did Mine anger burn, And against the he-goats I lay a charge, For inspected hath Jehovah of Hosts His flock, the house of Judah, And set them as His beauteous horse in battle.
4 From him will come forth the cornerstone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.
From him [is] a corner-stone, From him a nail, from him a battle-bow, From him goeth forth every exactor together.
5 They shall be as mighty men, treading down muddy streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because YHWH is with them; and the riders on horses will be confounded.
And they have been as heroes, Treading in mire of out-places in battle, And they have fought, for Jehovah [is] with them, And have put to shame riders of horses.
6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back; for I have mercy on them; and they will be as though I had not cast them off: for I am YHWH their God, and I will hear them.
And I have made mighty the house of Judah, And the house of Joseph I do save, And I have caused them to dwell, for I have loved them, And they have been as [if] I had not cast them off, For I [am] Jehovah their God, And I answer them.
7 Ephraim will be like a mighty man, and their heart will rejoice as through wine; yes, their children will see it, and rejoice. Their heart will be glad in YHWH.
And Ephraim hath been as a hero, And rejoiced hath their heart as wine, And their sons see, and they have rejoiced, Rejoice doth their heart in Jehovah.
8 I will signal for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they will increase as they have increased.
I hist for them, and I gather them, For I have redeemed them, And they have multiplied as they did multiply.
9 I will sow them among the peoples; and they will remember me in far countries; and they will live with their children, and will return.
And I sow them among peoples, And in far-off places they remember Me, And they have lived with their sons, And they have turned back.
10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and there won't be room enough for them.
And I have brought them back from the land of Egypt, And from Asshur I do gather them, And unto the land of Gilead and Lebanon I do bring them in, And there is not found for them [space].
11 He will pass through the sea of affliction, and will 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.
And He hath passed over through the sea, And hath pressed and smitten billows in the sea, And dried up have been all depths of a flood, And brought down hath been the excellency of Asshur, And the rod of Egypt doth turn aside.
12 I will strengthen them in YHWH; and they will walk up and down in his name," says YHWH.
And I have made them mighty in Jehovah, And in His name they walk up and down, An affirmation of Jehovah!