1 AskAdonaifor rain in the spring,
Adonaiwho makes the rain clouds;
and he will give them showers of rain,
grass in the field to each one.
2 For the household gods talk nonsense,
the diviners have seen a lie;
their dreams convey delusions,
and the comfort they offer is in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep
in distress from lack of a shepherd.
3 “My anger burns against the shepherds,
and I will vent it on the leaders of the flock.”
ForAdonai-Tzva’otwill care for his flock,
the people of Y’hudah;
he will make them like his royal war-horse.
4 From them come cornerstone and tent peg,
from them the bow for battle,
from them all the rulers together.
5 They will be like warriors
trampling the mud of the streets in battle.
They will fight, becauseAdonaiis with them;
they will rout even those on horseback.
6 “I will strengthen the house of Y’hudah
and save the house of Yosef.
I will bring them back in my compassion for them;
they will be as if I hadn’t driven them out;
for I amAdonaitheir God,
and I will answer them.
7 Efrayim’s men will be like warriors;
their hearts will be cheered as if from wine.
Their children will see it and rejoice,
their hearts will be glad inAdonai.
8 “I will whistle for them and gather them,
because I have redeemed them;
they will be as numerous
as they were before;
9 and I will sow them among the peoples.
In distant lands they will remember me;
they will rear their children and then return.
10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt
and gather them out of Ashur.
I will bring them into Gil‘ad and the L’vanon,
until there is no more room for them.
11 “Trouble will pass over the sea
and stir up waves in the sea;
all the depths of the Nile will be dried up,
the pride of Ashur will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will leave.
12 But I will strengthen [Isra’el] inAdonai;
they will travel here and there in his name,”
saysAdonai.