The Lord Restores His People
1 Ask theLordfor rain
in the season of spring rain.
TheLordmakes the rain clouds,
and He will give them showers of rain
and crops in the field for everyone.
2 For the idols speak falsehood,
and the divinerssee illusions;
they relate empty dreams
and offer empty comfort.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.
3 My anger burns against the shepherds,
so I will punish the leaders.
For theLordof Hosts has tended His flock,
the house of Judah;
He will make them like His majestic steed in battle.
4 The cornerstonewill come from Judah.
The tent pegwill come from them
and also the battle bowand everyruler.
Together
5 they will be like warriors in battle
trampling down the mud of the streets.
They will fight because theLordis with them,
and they will put horsemen to shame.
6 I will strengthen the house of Judah
and deliver the house of Joseph.
I will restorethem
because I have compassion on them,
and they will be
as though I had never rejected them.
For I am Yahweh their God,
and I will answer them.
7 Ephraimwill be like a warrior,
and their hearts will be glad as if with wine.
Their children will see it and be glad;
their hearts will rejoice in Yahweh.
8 I will whistleand gather them
because I have redeemedthem;
they will be as numerous as they once were.
9 Though I sowthem among the nations,
they will rememberMe in the distant lands;
they and their children will live and return.
10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt
and gather them from Assyria.
I will bring them to the land of Gilead
and to Lebanon,
but it will not be enough for them.
11 Yahwehwill pass through the sea of distress
and strike the waves of the sea;
all the depths of the Nile will dry up.
The pride of Assyria will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will come to an end.
12 I will strengthenthem in Yahweh,
and they will marchin His name —
this is Yahweh’s declaration.
—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/10-d196275f93f5c7d58f6eb6c33c545572.mp3?version_id=72—