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.

1 在春雨的季节， 你们要向耶和华求雨。耶和华闪发雷电， 给人降雨， 使各人的田地生长蔬菜。

2 因为偶像所说的是空言， 占卜者所见的是虚谎， 他们所说的是假梦， 只给人空洞的安慰。因此， 众人都如羊没有牧人， 流离困苦。

3 "我的怒气要向这些牧人发作， 我要惩罚那些公山羊。（因为万军之耶和华眷顾他的羊群犹大家， 使他们像战场上雄赳赳的战马。）

4 房角石、帐棚桩、作战的弓和所有的统治者， 都从犹大而出。

5 他们必像勇士， 在战场上把仇敌践踏在街上的泥土中， 他们必争战， 因为耶和华与他们同在， 他们必使敌方的骑士羞愧。

6 我要使犹大家强盛起来， 我必拯救约瑟家。我要使他们归回， 因为我怜悯他们； 他们好像未遭我弃绝一样， 因为我是耶和华他们的 神， 我必应允他们。

7 以法莲人必像勇士， 他们心中快乐， 好像饮了酒一样； 他们的子孙看见了， 也必快乐； 他们的心必因耶和华欢乐。

8 我要向他们吹哨子， 招聚他们， 因为我救赎了他们。他们的人数要增多， 像从前一样。

9 虽然我把他们散播在万民中， 他们仍要在远方记念我； 他们与他们的子孙都要存活， 并且归回。

10 我要使他们从埃及地归回， 从亚述地招聚他们， 带他们到基列地和黎巴嫩山， 却仍不够容纳他们。

11 他必经过苦难的海， 击打海中的波浪， 尼罗河的深处也都要干涸； 亚述的骄傲必降为卑； 埃及的权势要过去。

12 我必使我的子民因耶和华而强盛， 他们要奉耶和华的名行事为人。"这是耶和华的宣告。