Zechariah 10

The Lord Restores His People

1 Ask the Lord for rain

in the season of spring rain.

The Lord makes the rain clouds,

and he will give them showers of rain

and crops in the field for everyone.  * 10:1 Dt 28:12; Is 30:23; Jr 51:16

2 For the idols speak falsehood,

and the diviners  * 10:2 Jr 27:9; Mc 3:7 see 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.  * 10:3 Lit male goats

For the Lord of Armies has tended his flock,

the house of Judah;

he will make them like his majestic steed in battle.

4 The cornerstone,  * 10:4 Jdg 20:2; 1Sm 14:38; Ps 118:22; Is 28:16 the tent peg,  * 10:4 Jdg 4:21

the battle bow,  * 10:4 2Kg 13:15–17; Rv 6:2 and every ruler —

all will go out from him together.

5 They will be like warriors in battle

trampling down the mud of the streets.

They will fight because the  Lord is with them,

and they will put horsemen to shame.

6 I will strengthen the house of Judah

and deliver the house of Joseph.  * 10:6 = the northern kingdom

I will restore  * 10:6 Other Hb mss, LXX read settle  them

because I have compassion on them,

and they will be

as though I had never rejected them.  * 10:6 Ps 103:12

For I am the Lord  their God,

and I will answer them.

7 Ephraim  * 10:7 Is 7:8 will be like a warrior,

and their hearts will be glad as if with wine.

Their children will see it and be glad;  * 10:7 Ex 4:14; Ps 16:9

their hearts will rejoice in the  Lord.

8 I will whistle  * 10:8 Is 5:26; 7:18 and gather them

because I have redeemed  * 10:8 Ex 13:13; 21:8; 34:20; Jb 5:20; Ps 130:8; Is 51:11; Mc 6:4  them;

they will be as numerous as they once were.

9 Though I sow  * 10:9 Gn 26:12; Ex 23:16; Ps 126:5 them among the nations,

they will remember  * 10:9 Gn 40:23; Jos 1:13 me 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  * 10:10 Gn 31:21; Dt 34:1; Ps 60:7

and to Lebanon,

but it will not be enough for them.

11 The Lord* 10:11 Lit He will pass through the sea of distress

and strike the waves of the sea;

all the depths of the Nile will dry up.  * 10:11 Gn 8:7; Jos 2:10; 4:23; 1Kg 17:7; Jb 12:15; Ps 74:15; Pr 17:22

The pride of Assyria will be brought down,

and the scepter of Egypt will come to an end.

12 I will strengthen  * 10:12 Zch 10:6 them in the Lord,

and they will march  * 10:12 Jos 6:3; Ps 68:7; Jr 46:9 in his name —

this is the Lord’s declaration.