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The Lord’s Promises

10 Ask the Lord for rain during the ·springtime [L latter] rains.
    The Lord is the one who makes the storm clouds.
He sends the showers
    and gives everyone ·green [plants in the] fields.
·Idols [Household gods; L Teraphim; Gen. 31:19] ·tell lies [or give worthless counsel];
    fortune-tellers see ·false [lying] visions
and tell about false dreams.
    The comfort they give is ·worth nothing [in vain].
So the people ·are [wander] like lost sheep.
    They are ·abused [oppressed; or in distress], because there is no shepherd.

The Lord says, “·I am angry [My anger burns] at my shepherds,
    and I will punish the ·leaders [L lead goats].
I, the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], care
    for my flock, the ·people [L house] of Judah.
    I will make them like my ·proud [majestic] war horses.

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God Will Bless Judah and Ephraim

10 Ask for rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain.
It is the Lord who makes the thunder clouds;
And He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field to everyone.

For the teraphim (household idols) speak wickedness (emptiness, worthlessness),
And the diviners see lying visions
And tell false dreams;
They comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep,
They are afflicted and suffer because there is no shepherd.

“My anger is kindled against the shepherds [who are not true shepherds],
And I shall punish the male goats (leaders);
For the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah (the Southern Kingdom),
And will make them like His beautiful and majestic horse in the battle.(A)

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