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¹ Ask rain ^(a)from the Lord
    in the season of ^(b)the spring rain,
from the Lord ^(c)who makes the storm clouds,
    and ^(d)he will give them showers of rain,
    to everyone the vegetation in the field.
² For ^(e)the household gods ^(f)utter nonsense,
    and the diviners see lies;
^(g)they tell false dreams
    and give empty consolation.
Therefore ^(h)the people wander like sheep;
    they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.

^3 (i)"My anger is hot against the shepherds,
    and ^(j)I will punish the leaders;^[a]
for ^(k)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 ^(l)the cornerstone,
    from him ^(m)the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
    from him every ruler—⁽ⁿ⁾all of them together.
⁵ They shall be like mighty men in battle,
    ^(o)trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
they shall fight because the Lord is with them,
    and they shall put to shame ^(p)the riders on horses.

^6 (q)"I will strengthen the house of Judah,
    and ^(r)I will save the house of Joseph.
^(s)I will bring them back ^(t)because I have compassion on them,
    and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
    for ^(u)I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
⁷ Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,
    and ^(v)their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
Their children shall see it and be glad;
    their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.

^8 (w)"I will whistle for them and ^(x)gather them in,
    for I have redeemed them,
    and ^(y)they shall be as many as they were before.
^9 (z)Though I scattered them among the nations,
    yet in far countries ^(aa)they shall remember me,
    and with their children they shall live and return.
^10 (ab)I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,
    and gather them from Assyria,
and ^(ac)I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
    ^(ad)till there is no room for them.
^11 (ae)He shall pass through the sea of troubles
    and strike down the waves of the sea,
    ^(af)and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up.
The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,
    and ^(ag)the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
^12 (ah)I will make them strong in the Lord,
    and ^(ai)they shall walk in his name,"
declares the Lord.