微读圣经

The Lord Restores His People

1Ask the Lord for rain

in the season of spring rain.

The Lord makes the rain clouds,

and He will give them showers of rain

and crops in the field for everyone. Dt 28:12; Is 30:23; Jr 51:16

2For the idols speak falsehood,

and the diviners Jr 27:9; Mc 3:7 see illusions;

they relate empty dreams

and offer empty comfort.

Therefore the people wander like sheep;

they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.

3My anger burns against the shepherds,

so I will punish the leaders. Lit male goats

For the Lord of Hosts has tended His flock,

the house of Judah;

He will make them like His majestic steed in battle.

4The cornerstone Jdg 20:2; 1Sm 14:38; Ps 118:22; Is 28:16 will come from Judah. Lit them

The tent peg Jdg 4:21 will come from them

and also the battle bow 2Kg 13:15-17; Rv 6:2 and every Lit also from them the . . . , from them every ruler.

Together

5they will be like warriors in battle

trampling down the mud of the streets.

They will fight because the Lord is with them,

and they will put horsemen to shame.

6I will strengthen the house of Judah

and deliver the house of Joseph. = the northern kingdom

I will restore Other Hb mss, LXX read settle them

because I have compassion on them,

and they will be

as though I had never rejected them. Ps 103:12

For I am Yahweh their God,

and I will answer them.

7Ephraim Is 7:8 will be like a warrior,

and their hearts will be glad as if with wine.

Their children will see it and be glad; Ex 4:14; Ps 16:9

their hearts will rejoice in Yahweh.

8I will whistle Is 5:26; 7:18 and gather them

because I have redeemed Ex 13:13; 21:8; 34:20; Jb 5:20; Ps 130:8; Is 51:11; Mc 6:4 them;

they will be as numerous as they once were.

9Though I sow Gn 26:12; Ex 23:16; Ps 126:5 them among the nations,

they will remember Gn 40:23; Jos 1:13 Me in the distant lands;

they and their children will live and return.

10I will bring them back from the land of Egypt

and gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to the land of Gilead Gn 31:21; Dt 34:1; Ps 60:7

and to Lebanon,

but it will not be enough for them.

11Yahweh Lit He will pass through the sea of distress

and strike the waves of the sea;

all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Gn 8:7; Jos 2:10; 4:23; 1Kg 17:7; Jb 12:15; Ps 74:15; Pr 17:22

The pride of Assyria will be brought down,

and the scepter of Egypt will come to an end.

12I will strengthen Zch 10:6 them in Yahweh,

and they will march Jos 6:3; Ps 68:7; Jr 46:9 in His name —

this is Yahweh’s declaration.