ZECHARIAH 10 [†] Ask rain  b from the LORD

in the season of  c the spring rain,

from the LORD  d who makes the storm clouds,

and  e he will give them showers of rain,

to everyone the vegetation in the field.

2[†] For  f the household gods  g utter nonsense,

and the diviners see lies;

 h they tell false dreams

and give empty consolation.

Therefore  i the people wander like sheep;

they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.

3[†]  j “My anger is hot against the shepherds,

and  k I will punish the leaders; [1]

for  l the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,

and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.

4[†] From him shall come  m the cornerstone,

from him  n the tent peg,

from him the battle bow,

from him every ruler— o all of them together.

5 They shall be like mighty men in battle,

 p trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;

they shall fight because the LORD is with them,

and they shall put to shame  q the riders on horses.

6[†]  r “I will strengthen the house of Judah,

and  s I will save the house of Joseph.

 t I will bring them back  u because I have compassion on them,

and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,

for  v I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.

7[†] Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,

and  w their hearts shall be glad as with wine.

Their children shall see it and be glad;

their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.

8[†]  x “I will whistle for them and  y gather them in,

for I have redeemed them,

and  z they shall be as many as they were before.

9[^]  a Though I scattered them among the nations,

yet in far countries  b they shall remember me,

and with their children they shall live and return.

10  c I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,

and gather them from Assyria,

and  d I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,

 e till there is no room for them.

11  f He shall pass through the sea of troubles

and strike down the waves of the sea,

 g and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up.

The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,

and  h the scepter of Egypt shall depart.

12  i I will make them strong in the LORD,

and  j they shall walk in his name,”

declares the LORD.