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Fate of Judah and Ephraim

10 Ask the Lord for rain when it is time for the spring rain.
            The Lord is the one who makes the thunderstorms.
        He gives them rain showers.
        He gives vegetation in the field to each of them.[a]
The household divine images
        speak idolatry, and diviners see lies.
They interpret dreams falsely
        and provide empty comfort.
Therefore, they wander like sheep,
        but they are oppressed because there is no shepherd.
My anger burns hot against the shepherds;
            I will punish the goats.
        The Lord of heavenly forces will take care of his splendor, the house of Judah.
        He will make them like his majestic horse in battle.
The cornerstone, the tent peg, and the bow used in battle will come from Judah.
        Every oppressor will leave Judah simultaneously.
Judah will be like warriors,
        trampling through the muddy streets during battle.
They will do battle because the Lord is with them.
        All the cavalry will be ashamed.
I will strengthen the house of Judah
        and deliver the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back[b] because I have compassion on them.
        They will be as though I hadn’t rejected them, for I am the Lord their God;
            I will respond to them.

Ephraim will be like a warrior.
        They will be as glad as if they were drinking wine.
        Their children will watch and be glad.
        Their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.
I will whistle for them and gather them,
            because I have ransomed them.
        They will be as numerous as they were previously.
Though I sowed them among the peoples,
        they will remember me in the distant places
        where they are living with their children until they return.
10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt;
    I will collect them from Assyria.
    I will bring them to the land of Gilead and Lebanon
        until there is no more room for them.
11 They[c] will pass through the sea of distress
            and strike the sea with waves.[d]
        All the depths of the river will dry up.
        The pride of Assyria will be brought down;
            the scepter of Egypt will turn away.
12 I will strengthen them in the Lord,
        and they will walk in his name, says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 10:1 Heb lacks of them.
  2. Zechariah 10:6 Or I will restore them
  3. Zechariah 10:11 LXX; MT he
  4. Zechariah 10:11 Heb uncertain

The Lord Will Care for Judah

10 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;
    it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.
He gives showers of rain(A) to all people,
    and plants of the field(B) to everyone.
The idols(C) speak deceitfully,
    diviners(D) see visions that lie;
they tell dreams(E) that are false,
    they give comfort in vain.(F)
Therefore the people wander like sheep
    oppressed for lack of a shepherd.(G)

“My anger burns against the shepherds,
    and I will punish the leaders;(H)
for the Lord Almighty will care
    for his flock, the people of Judah,
    and make them like a proud horse in battle.(I)
From Judah will come the cornerstone,(J)
    from him the tent peg,(K)
from him the battle bow,(L)
    from him every ruler.
Together they[a] will be like warriors in battle
    trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets.(M)
They will fight because the Lord is with them,
    and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.(N)

“I will strengthen(O) Judah
    and save the tribes of Joseph.
I will restore them
    because I have compassion(P) on them.(Q)
They will be as though
    I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God
    and I will answer(R) them.
The Ephraimites will become like warriors,
    and their hearts will be glad as with wine.(S)
Their children will see it and be joyful;
    their hearts will rejoice(T) in the Lord.
I will signal(U) for them
    and gather them in.
Surely I will redeem them;
    they will be as numerous(V) as before.
Though I scatter them among the peoples,
    yet in distant lands they will remember me.(W)
They and their children will survive,
    and they will return.
10 I will bring them back from Egypt
    and gather them from Assyria.(X)
I will bring them to Gilead(Y) and Lebanon,
    and there will not be room(Z) enough for them.
11 They will pass through the sea of trouble;
    the surging sea will be subdued
    and all the depths of the Nile will dry up.(AA)
Assyria’s pride(AB) will be brought down
    and Egypt’s scepter(AC) will pass away.(AD)
12 I will strengthen(AE) them in the Lord
    and in his name they will live securely,(AF)
declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 10:5 Or ruler, all of them together. / They