Zechariah 10

1 “Ask the LORD for rain in the spring ^{a10:1 Lit. the season of the latter rain; i.e. the March and April rains} — the LORD who fashions lightning thunderstorms, giving rain showers to mankind ^{b10:1 Lit. them} along with grain in the fields. ^{c10:1 Lit. fields to a man}ISV — Zechariah 10:1

2 Truly the family idols ^{d10:2 Lit. the teraphim; i.e. household images apparently used for divination} talk nonsense and the diviners discern lies, describing delusional dreams. Since their comfort is vacuous, they wander off on their own like sheep, because there is no shepherd.ISV — Zechariah 10:2

3 “Against the shepherds my anger rises— I am punishing the leaders ^{e10:3 Lit. rams} also, because the LORD of the Heavenly Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah, appointing them as his royal war horse for battle.ISV — Zechariah 10:3

4 From them arises ^{f10:4 The Heb. lacks arises} the cornerstone and tent peg, from them the battle bow, from them arise all sorts of oppressive rulers.ISV — Zechariah 10:4

5 They will be like mighty soldiers who trample mud in the streets during battle. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and the opposing ^{g10:5 The Heb. lacks opposing} horsemen will be confused.ISV — Zechariah 10:5

6 “I will fortify the house of Judah, and the house of Joseph I will save. I will surely bring them back, because I care about them. They will be as if I had never cast them away. Since I am the LORD their God, I will answer them.ISV — Zechariah 10:6

7 “The people of Ephraim will become like mighty soldiers; they will be glad, like those who have wine. Their children will see this and rejoice; their hearts will find joy in the Lord.ISV — Zechariah 10:7

8 I will whistle for them, gathering them together, because I have redeemed them, and they will multiply as they were before. ^{h10:8 Lit. will increase as they increased}ISV — Zechariah 10:8

9 I will scatter them among the nations, and so they will remember me in distant countries. They will rear their children, and they will return.ISV — Zechariah 10:9

10 I will bring them once again out of the land of Egypt, gathering them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, but there will not be enough space for them.ISV — Zechariah 10:10

11 They ^{i10:11 So LXX. MT reads He will} will pass through the sea of affliction, and they ^{j10:11 So LXX. MT reads He will} will strike the waves ^{k10:11 i.e. perhaps reminiscent of Elijah striking the Jordan River; cf. 2Kings 2:8} in that sea. All of the depths of the Nile will evaporate, Assyria’s arrogance will be brought down low, and the ruling power ^{l10:11 Lit. the scepter} of Egypt will disappear.ISV — Zechariah 10:11

12 “I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they will march here and there in his name,” declares the LORD.ISV — Zechariah 10:12