1 Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time,

Yahweh who makes storm clouds,

and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.

2 For the teraphim have spoken vanity,

and the diviners have seen a lie;

and they have told false dreams.

They comfort in vain.

Therefore they go their way like sheep.

They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.

3 My anger is kindled against the shepherds,

and I will punish the male goats,

for Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,

and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.

4 From him will come the cornerstone,

from him the tent peg,

from him the battle bow,

from him every ruler together.

5 They will be as mighty men,

treading down muddy streets in the battle.

They will fight, because Yahweh is with them.

The riders on horses will be confounded.

6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah,

and I will save the house of Joseph.

I will bring them back,

for I have mercy on them.

They will be as though I had not cast them off,

for I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.

7 Ephraim will be like a mighty man,

and their heart will rejoice as through wine.

Yes, their children will see it and rejoice.

Their heart will be glad in Yahweh.

8 I will signal for them and gather them,

for I have redeemed them.

They will increase as they were before.

9 I will sow them among the peoples.

They will remember me in far countries.

They will live with their children and will return.

10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt,

and gather them out of Assyria.

I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon;

and there won’t be room enough for them.

11 He will pass through the sea of affliction,

and 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.

12 I will strengthen them in Yahweh.

They will walk up and down in his name," says Yahweh.

1 在春雨的季节， 你们要向耶和华求雨。耶和华闪发雷电， 给人降雨， 使各人的田地生长蔬菜。

2 因为偶像所说的是空言， 占卜者所见的是虚谎， 他们所说的是假梦， 只给人空洞的安慰。因此， 众人都如羊没有牧人， 流离困苦。

3 "我的怒气要向这些牧人发作， 我要惩罚那些公山羊。（因为万军之耶和华眷顾他的羊群犹大家， 使他们像战场上雄赳赳的战马。）

4 房角石、帐棚桩、作战的弓和所有的统治者， 都从犹大而出。

5 他们必像勇士， 在战场上把仇敌践踏在街上的泥土中， 他们必争战， 因为耶和华与他们同在， 他们必使敌方的骑士羞愧。

6 我要使犹大家强盛起来， 我必拯救约瑟家。我要使他们归回， 因为我怜悯他们； 他们好像未遭我弃绝一样， 因为我是耶和华他们的 神， 我必应允他们。

7 以法莲人必像勇士， 他们心中快乐， 好像饮了酒一样； 他们的子孙看见了， 也必快乐； 他们的心必因耶和华欢乐。

8 我要向他们吹哨子， 招聚他们， 因为我救赎了他们。他们的人数要增多， 像从前一样。

9 虽然我把他们散播在万民中， 他们仍要在远方记念我； 他们与他们的子孙都要存活， 并且归回。

10 我要使他们从埃及地归回， 从亚述地招聚他们， 带他们到基列地和黎巴嫩山， 却仍不够容纳他们。

11 他必经过苦难的海， 击打海中的波浪， 尼罗河的深处也都要干涸； 亚述的骄傲必降为卑； 埃及的权势要过去。

12 我必使我的子民因耶和华而强盛， 他们要奉耶和华的名行事为人。"这是耶和华的宣告。