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.