< Zechariah 10 >

1 Ask from Yahweh rain at [the] time of spring rain Yahweh [is] making thunder-clouds and rain of rain he gives to them to everyone vegetation in the field.
Ask Yahweh to cause rain to fall (in the springtime/before the hot season starts), [because] he is the one who makes the clouds [from which the rain falls]. He causes showers to fall on us, and he causes crops to grow well in the fields.
2 For the teraphim they speak wickedness and the diviners they see falsehood and [the] dreams of worthlessness they speak futility they comfort! there-fore they have set out like sheep they are afflicted for there not [is] a shepherd.
[What people think that] the idols in their houses suggest [is only] nonsense, and people who [say that they can] interpret dreams tell [only] lies. When they [tell people things to] comfort [them, what they say] is useless, so the people [who (consult/trust in) them] are like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no [one to protect them] [like] [MET] a shepherd [protects his sheep].
3 Towards the shepherds it has burned anger my and on the leaders I will visit [judgment] for he visits Yahweh of hosts flock his [the] house of Judah and he will make them like [the] horse of majesty his in battle.
[Yahweh says, ] “I am angry with the leaders [MET] of my people, and I will punish them. [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, take care of my people, the people of Judah, [like a shepherd takes care of his] [MET] flock, and I will cause them to be like [SIM] proud/powerful war horses.
4 From it a corner from it a peg from it a bow of war from it he will come forth every ruler together.
From Judah will come rulers [who will be very important], [like] [MET] a cornerstone is [the most important stone for a house], [like] [MET] a tent peg [is very important for a tent], [like] [MET] a bow [is very important for (an archer/a man who shoots arrows]).
5 And they will be like warriors treading down in [the] mud of [the] streets in battle and they will fight for Yahweh [will be] with them and they will put to shame riders of horses.
They will all be like [SIM] mighty warriors trampling [their enemies] in the mud during a battle. [I, ] Yahweh, will be with them, so they will fight and defeat their enemies who ride on horses.
6 And I will make strong - [the] house of Judah and [the] house of Joseph I will save and I will restore them for I have compassion on them and they will be just as not I had rejected them for I [am] Yahweh God their and I will answer them.
I will cause the people [MTY] of Judah to become strong, and I will rescue the people [MTY] of Israel. I will bring them back [from the countries to which they were (exiled/forced to go)]; [I will do that] because I pity them. Then they will be as though I had not abandoned them, because I am Yahweh, their God, and I will answer them [when they pray for help].
7 And they will be like a warrior Ephraim and it will be glad heart their like wine and children their they will see and they will be glad it may rejoice heart their in Yahweh.
The people of Israel will be like [SIM] strong soldiers; they will be as happy as [people who have drunk a lot of] wine. Their children will see [their fathers being very happy], and they [also] will be happy because of what Yahweh [has done for them].
8 I will whistle for them and I will gather them for I have redeemed them and they will multiply as they multiplied.
I will signal for my people [to return from (being exiled/other countries)], and I will gather them together [in their own country]. I will rescue them, and they will become very numerous like [they were] previously.
9 And I will sow them among the peoples and in the distant places they will remember me and they will live with children their and they will return.
I have caused them to be scattered among many people-groups, but in those distant countries they will think about me again. They and their children will remain alive and return [to Judah].
10 And I will bring back them from [the] land of Egypt and from Assyria I will gather them and to [the] land of Gilead and Lebanon I will bring them and not it will be found for them.
I will bring them [back] from Egypt and from Assyria; I will bring them [back] from the Gilead and Lebanon [regions], and there will hardly be enough [HYP] space for them all [to live in Judah].
11 And he will pass in the sea trouble and he will strike in the sea waves and they will dry up all [the] depths of [the] River and it will be brought down [the] pride of Assyria and [the] scepter of Egypt it will depart.
They will endure/experience many difficulties [as though they were walking] [MET] through a sea, but [I] will calm the waves of the sea; the Nile [River which is usually] deep will dry up. [I] will defeat the proud [soldiers of] Assyria, and [I will cause] Egypt to no longer be powerful [MTY].
12 And I will make strong them by Yahweh and in name his they will go about [the] utterance of Yahweh.
I will enable my people to be strong, and they will honor me and obey [IDM] me. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”

< Zechariah 10 >