1 Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time,
Yahweh who makes storm clouds,
and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
2 For the teraphim have spoken vanity,
and the diviners have seen a lie;
and they have told false dreams.
They comfort in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep.
They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
3 My anger is kindled against the shepherds,
and I will punish the male goats,
for Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
4 From him will come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler together.
5 They will be as mighty men,
treading down muddy streets in the battle.
They will fight, because Yahweh is with them.
The riders on horses will be confounded.
6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back,
for I have mercy on them.
They will be as though I had not cast them off,
for I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.
7 Ephraim will be like a mighty man,
and their heart will rejoice as through wine.
Yes, their children will see it and rejoice.
Their heart will be glad in Yahweh.
8 I will signal for them and gather them,
for I have redeemed them.
They will increase as they were before.
9 I will sow them among the peoples.
They will remember me in far countries.
They will live with their children and will return.
10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt,
and gather them out of Assyria.
I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon;
and there won’t be room enough for them.
11 He will pass through the sea of affliction,
and will strike the waves in the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up;
and the pride of Assyria will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
12 I will strengthen them in Yahweh.
They will walk up and down in his name," says Yahweh.
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.