Zechariah 10

¹Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain , from the Lord who makes the storm clouds , and he will give them showers of rain , to everyone the vegetation in the field .

²For the household gods utter nonsense , and the diviners see lies ; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation . Therefore the people wander like sheep ; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd .

³My anger is hot against the shepherds , and I will punish the leaders ; for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock , the house of Judah , and will make them like his majestic steed in battle .

⁴From him shall come the cornerstone , from him the tent peg , from him the battle bow , from him every ruler — all of them together .

⁵They shall be like mighty men in battle , trampling the foe in the mud of the streets ; they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses .

⁶I will strengthen the house of Judah , and I will save the house of Joseph . I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.

⁷Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior , and their hearts shall be glad as with wine . Their children shall see it and be glad ; their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.

⁸I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before .

⁹Though I scattered them among the nations , yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return .

¹⁰I will bring them home from the land of Egypt , and gather them from Assyria , and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon , till there is no room for them.

¹¹He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea , and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up . The pride of Assyria shall be laid low , and the scepter of Egypt shall depart .

¹²I will make them strong in the Lord, and they shall walk in his name , declares the Lord.