Judah and Israel Will Be Restored 1 ULT Ask for rain from Yahweh in the time of the spring rain, Yahweh, the one making thunderstorms, and he gives them rain showers, to a man, vegetation in the field. BSB BSB: Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field.
2 ULT For household idols speak iniquity, and the diviners envision a lie, and they speak dreams of emptiness; with vanity they comfort. Therefore, they journey like a flock; they are afflicted because there is no shepherd. BSB BSB: For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
3 ULT “Against the shepherds my nose burns, and on the male goats I will attend. For Yahweh of Armies attends to his flock, the house of Judah, and he will make them like a horse of his splendor in the battle! BSB BSB: “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders. For the LORD of Hosts attends to His flock, the house of Judah; He will make them like His royal steed in battle.
4 ULT From him a cornerstone, from him a{ tent} peg, from him a bow of war, from him will come forth every ruler together. BSB BSB: The cornerstone will come from Judah, the tent peg from him, as well as the battle bow and every ruler together.
5 ULT And they will be like warriors trampling in the mud of the streets in the battle, and they will fight, for Yahweh is with them, and they will put to shame the riders of horses. BSB BSB: They will be like mighty men in battle, trampling the enemy in the mire of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and they will put the horsemen to shame.
6 ULT And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. And I will bring them back, for I have compassion on them, and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am Yahweh their God, and I will answer them. BSB BSB: I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them, and they will be as though I had not rejected them. For I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them.
7 ULT And Ephraim will be like a warrior, and their heart will be glad as{ with} wine, and their sons will see and rejoice; their heart will exult in Yahweh. BSB BSB: Ephraim will be like a mighty man, 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 ULT I will whistle for them and gather them, for I have redeemed them, and they will be many, as they were many. BSB BSB: I will whistle for them to gather, for I have redeemed them; and they will be as numerous as they once were.
9 ULT And I will sow them among the peoples, and in the distant places they will remember me, and they will live with their sons and return. BSB BSB: Though I sow them among the nations, they will remember Me in distant lands; they and their children will live and return.
10 ULT And I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, and from Assyria I will gather them, and to the land of Gilead and Lebanon I will bring them, and{ room} will not be found for them. BSB BSB: I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon until no more room is found for them.
11 ULT And he will pass through the sea{ of} distress, and he 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. BSB BSB: They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
12 ULT And I will strengthen them in Yahweh, and in his name they will walk”— the declaration of Yahweh. BSB BSB: I will strengthen them in the LORD, and in His name they will walk,” declares the LORD.