The LORD Will Care for Judah
1
Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime;
it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds.
He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.
2
The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie;
they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
3
"My anger burns against the shepherds and I will punish the leaders;
for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah,
and make them like a proud horse in battle.
4
From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.
5
Together they will be like mighty men trampling the muddy streets in battle.
Because the LORD is with them, they will fight and overthrow the horsemen.
6
"I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph.
I will restore them because I have compassion on them.
They will be as though I had not rejected them
for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
7
The Ephraimites will become like mighty men,
and their hearts will be glad as with wine.
Their children will see it and be joyful;
their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.
8
I will signal for them and gather them in.
Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before.
9
Though I scatter them among the peoples,
yet in distant lands they will remember me.
They and their children will survive, and they will return.
10
I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria.
I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will be room 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.
Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away.
12
I will strengthen them in the LORD and
in his name they will walk," declares the LORD.
