Study Desk

Ask for ^(C1)rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rain— The LORD who ^(C2)makes the ^(F1)storm winds; And He will give them ^(C3)showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each person.

For the ^(F1)(C1)household idols speak deception, And the ^(C2)diviners see ^(F2)an illusion And tell ^(C3)deceitful dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people ^(F3)wander like ^(C4)sheep, They are wretched because there is no shepherd.

"My ^(C1)anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the ^(F1)male goats; For the LORD of armies has ^(C2)visited His flock, the house of Judah, And will make them like His majestic horse in battle.

-"From ^(F1)them will come the ^(C1)cornerstone, From ^(F1)them the tent peg, From ^(F1)them the bow of ^(C2)battle, From ^(F1)them every tyrant, all of them together.

-"And they will be like warriors, ^(C1)Trampling down the enemy in the mud of the streets in battle; And they will fight, because the LORD will be with them; And the ^(C2)riders on horses will be put to shame.

-"And I will ^(C1)strengthen the house of Judah, And I will ^(C2)save the house of Joseph, And I will ^(F1)(C3)bring them back, Because I have had ^(C4)compassion on them; And they will be as though I had ^(C5)not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God and I will ^(C6)answer them.

-"Ephraim will be like a warrior, And their heart will be joyful as if from wine; Indeed, their ^(C1)children will see it and be joyful, ^(F1)Their heart will rejoice in the LORD.

-"I will ^(C1)whistle for them and gather them together, For I have redeemed them; And they will be as ^(C2)numerous as they ^(F1)(C3)were before.

-"When I ^(F1)scatter them among the peoples, They will ^(C1)remember Me in distant countries, And they with their children will live and come back.

-"I will ^(C1)bring them back from the land of Egypt And gather them from Assyria; And I will bring them into the land of ^(C2)Gilead and Lebanon ^(F1)Until ^(C3)no room can be found for them.

-"And they will pass through the ^(C1)sea of distress And He will strike the waves in the sea, So that all the depths of the ^(C2)Nile will dry up; And the pride of ^(C3)Assyria will be brought down, And the scepter of ^(C4)Egypt will depart.

-"And I will ^(C1)strengthen them in the LORD, And in His name ^(C2)they will walk," declares the LORD.