1 Bid tot die HERE om reën in die tyd van die laat reëns; die HERE maak die weerligte, en Hy sal aan hulle 'n stortreën gee, plante op die veld aan iedereen.

2 Want die huisgode spreek bedrog, en die waarsêers sien leuens en verkondig nietige drome, hulle troos met wind. Daarom het hulle weggeswerwe soos 'n kudde; hulle verkeer in verdrukking, omdat daar geen herder is nie.

3 Teen die herders het my toorn ontvlam, en oor die voorbokke sal Ek besoeking bring; want die HERE van die leërskare gee ag op sy kudde, op die huis van Juda, en maak hulle tot sy pragtige perd in die stryd.

4 Uit hom sal die hoeksteen, uit hom die muurpen, uit hom die strydboog, uit hom die heersers almal saam uitgaan.

5 En hulle sal wees soos helde wat in die oorlog die modder van die strate vertrap; en hulle sal veg, want die HERE is met hulle; en die ruitery sal beskaamd uitkom.

6 En Ek sal die huis van Juda sterk maak en aan die huis van Josef hulp verleen en hulle 'n woonplek aanwys, want Ek ontferm My oor hulle; en hulle sal wees asof Ek hulle nie verwerp het nie, want Ek is die HERE hulle God, en Ek sal hulle verhoor.

7 En Efraim sal wees soos 'n held, en hulle hart sal vrolik wees soos deur wyn, en hulle kinders sal dit sien en hulle verbly, hulle hart sal juig in die HERE.

8 Ek wil vir hulle fluit en hulle vergader, want Ek het hulle losgekoop; en hulle sal net so talryk wees soos tevore.

9 En Ek sal hulle saai onder die volke, en in die verafgeleë streke sal hulle aan My dink; en hulle sal saam met hul kinders in die lewe bly en terugkom.

10 En Ek sal hulle terugbring uit Egipteland en uit Assur hulle vergader en hulle na die land G¡lead en die L¡banon bring; maar dit sal vir hulle nie voldoende wees nie.

11 En Hy sal deur die see van benoudheid trek en die golwe in die see slaan, en al die dieptes van die Nyl sal opdroog; ook sal die trotsheid van Ass¡rië neergewerp word, en die septer van Egipteland wyk.

12 En Ek sal hulle sterk maak in die HERE, en hulle sal in sy Naam wandel, spreek die HERE.

1 Make your request to the Lord for rain in the time of the spring rains, even to the Lord who makes the thunder-flames; and he will give them showers of rain, to every man grass in the field.

2 For the images have said what is not true, and the readers of signs have seen deceit; they have given accounts of false dreams, they give comfort to no purpose: so they go out of the way like sheep, they are troubled because they have no keeper.

3 My wrath is burning against the keepers of the flock, and I will send punishment on the he-goats: for the Lord of armies takes care of his flock, the people of Judah, and will make them like the horse of his pride in the fight.

4 From him will come the keystone, from him the nail, from him the bow of war, from him will come every ruler;

5 Together they will be like men of war, crushing down their haters into the earth of the streets in the fight; they will make war because the Lord is with them: and the horsemen will be shamed.

6 And I will make the children of Judah strong, and I will be the saviour of the children of Joseph, and I will make them come back again, for I have had mercy on them: they will be as if I had not given them up: for I am the Lord their God and I will give them an answer.

7 And Ephraim will be like a man of war, and their hearts will be glad as with wine; and their children will see it with joy; their hearts will be glad in the Lord.

8 With the sound of the pipe I will get them together; for I have given the price to make them free: and they will be increased as they were increased.

9 Though I had them planted among the peoples, they will keep me in mind in far countries: and they will take care of their children and will come back.

10 And I will make them come back out of the land of Egypt, and will get them together out of Assyria; and I will take them into the land of Gilead, and it will not be wide enough for them.

11 And they will go through the sea of Egypt, and all the deep waters of the Nile will become dry: and the pride of Assyria will be made low, and the power of Egypt will be taken away.

12 And their strength will be in the Lord; and their pride will be in his name, says the Lord.