1 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;

it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.

He gives showers of rain to all people,

and plants of the field to everyone.

2 The idols speak deceitfully,

diviners see visions that lie;

they tell dreams that are false,

they give comfort in vain.

Therefore the people wander like sheep

oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

3 “My anger burns against the shepherds,

and I will punish the leaders;

for the Lord Almighty will care

for his flock, the people of Judah,

and make them like a proud horse in battle.

4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,

from him the tent peg,

from him the battle bow,

from him every ruler.

5 Together they will be like warriors in battle

trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets.

They will fight because the Lord is with them,

and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.

1 Ask rain from the Lord

in the season of the spring rain,

from the Lord who makes the storm clouds,

and he will give them showers of rain,

to everyone the vegetation in the field.

2 For the household gods utter nonsense,

and the diviners see lies;

they tell false dreams

and give empty consolation.

Therefore the people wander like sheep;

they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.

3 “My anger is hot against the shepherds,

and I will punish the leaders;

for 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 the cornerstone,

from him the tent peg,

from him the battle bow,

from him every ruler—all of them together.

5 They shall be like mighty men in battle,

trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;

they shall fight because the Lord is with them,

and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.

1 Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain;

So the Lord shall make bright clouds,

And give them showers of rain,

To every one grass in the field.

2 For the idols have spoken vanity,

And the diviners have seen a lie,

And have told false dreams;

They comfort in vain:

Therefore they went their way as a flock,

They were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds,

And I punished the goats:

For the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah,

And hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.

4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail,

Out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies

In the mire of the streets in the battle:

And they shall fight, because the Lord is with them,

And the riders on horses shall be confounded.

1 Ask the Lord for rain in the spring,

for he makes the storm clouds.

And he will send showers of rain

so every field becomes a lush pasture.

2 Household gods give worthless advice,

fortune-tellers predict only lies,

and interpreters of dreams pronounce

falsehoods that give no comfort.

So my people are wandering like lost sheep;

they are attacked because they have no shepherd.

3 “My anger burns against your shepherds,

and I will punish these leaders.

For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has arrived

to look after Judah, his flock.

He will make them strong and glorious,

like a proud warhorse in battle.

4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,

the tent peg,

the bow for battle,

and all the rulers.

5 They will be like mighty warriors in battle,

trampling their enemies in the mud under their feet.

Since the Lord is with them as they fight,

they will overthrow even the enemy’s horsemen.

1 Ask the Lord for rain

In the time of the latter rain.

The Lord will make flashing clouds;

He will give them showers of rain,

Grass in the field for everyone.

2 For the idols speak delusion;

The diviners envision lies,

And tell false dreams;

They comfort in vain.

Therefore the people wend their way like sheep;

They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.

3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds,

And I will punish the goatherds.

For the Lord of hosts will visit His flock,

The house of Judah,

And will make them as His royal horse in the battle.

4 From him comes the cornerstone,

From him the tent peg,

From him the battle bow,

From him every ruler together.

5 They shall be like mighty men,

Who tread down their enemies

In the mire of the streets in the battle.

They shall fight because the Lord is with them,

And the riders on horses shall be put to shame.

1 Ask the Lord for rain during the springtime rains.

The Lord is the one who makes the clouds.

He sends the showers

and gives everyone green fields.

2 Idols tell lies;

fortune-tellers see false visions

and tell about false dreams.

The comfort they give is worth nothing.

So the people are like lost sheep.

They are abused, because there is no shepherd.

3 The Lord says, “I am angry at my shepherds,

and I will punish the leaders.

I, the Lord All-Powerful, care

for my flock, the people of Judah.

I will make them like my proud war horses.

4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,

and the tent peg,

the battle bow,

and every ruler.

5 Together they will be like soldiers

marching to battle through muddy streets.

The Lord is with them,

so they will fight and defeat the horsemen.

1 Ask of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain; Jehovah will make lightnings, and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. 2 For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams: they comfort in vain. Therefore they have gone away as a flock, they are in distress, because there is no shepherd. 3 Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the he-goats; for Jehovah of hosts visiteth his flock, the house of Judah, and maketh them as his majestic horse in the battle. 4 From him shall come forth the corner-stone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every exactor together.

5 And they shall be as mighty men, treading down the mire of the streets in the battle; and they shall fight, for Jehovah is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame.

1 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime. 

The Lord makes thunderstorms. 

He gives everyone rain showers for the plants in the field. 

2 The idols speak lies. 

The fortunetellers see false visions. 

They speak about false dreams. 

They give useless comfort. 

That is why people wander around like sheep. 

They are troubled because there is no shepherd. 

3 “My burning anger is directed against the shepherds. 

I will punish the male goats. 

The Lord of Armies takes care of his flock, the people of Judah. 

He makes them like his splendid war horse.” 

4 From them will come a cornerstone, 

from them a tent peg, 

from them a battle bow, 

from them every leader. 

5 Together they will be like warriors 

who trample the enemy in the mud on the streets. 

They will fight because the Lord is with them. 

They will put to shame those who ride on horses. 

1 Ask the Lord for rain

in the season of spring rain.

The Lord makes the rain clouds,

and He will give them showers of rain

and crops in the field for everyone.

2 For the idols speak falsehood,

and the diviners see illusions;

they relate empty dreams

and offer empty comfort.

Therefore the people wander like sheep;

they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.

3 My anger burns against the shepherds,

so I will punish the leaders.

For the Lord of Hosts has tended His flock,

the house of Judah;

He will make them like His majestic steed in battle.

4 The cornerstone will come from Judah.

The tent peg will come from them

and also the battle bow and every ruler.

Together 5 they will be like warriors in battle

trampling down the mud of the streets.

They will fight because the Lord is with them,

and they will put horsemen to shame.

1 Ask rain from the Lord

in the season of the spring rain,

from the Lord who makes the storm clouds,

who gives showers of rain to you,

the vegetation in the field to everyone.

2 For the teraphim utter nonsense,

and the diviners see lies;

the dreamers tell false dreams,

and give empty consolation.

Therefore the people wander like sheep;

they suffer for lack of a shepherd.

3 My anger is hot against the shepherds,

and I will punish the leaders;

for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,

and will make them like his proud war-horse.

4 Out of them shall come the cornerstone,

out of them the tent peg,

out of them the battle bow,

out of them every commander.

5 Together they shall be like warriors in battle,

trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;

they shall fight, for the Lord is with them,

and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.

1 Ask rain from Yahweh in the season of the spring rain—

Yahweh, who makes storm clouds,

and he gives showers of rain to them,

to everyone vegetation in the field.

2 Because the household gods speak deceit,

and those who practice divination see a lie,

and the dreamers of vanity speak in vain.

Therefore the people wander like sheep;

they are afflicted because there is no shepherd.

3 My anger burns against the shepherds,

and I will punish the leaders,

because Yahweh of hosts watches over his flock,

the house of Judah;

and he will make them like his majestic horse in war.

4 From them the cornerstone will go out,

from them the tent peg,

from them the battle bow,

from them every ruler,

all together.

5 And they will be like warriors,

trampling in the mud of the streets in the battle.

They will fight, because Yahweh is with them,

and they will put to shame the riders on horses.

1 People of Judah, ask the Lord

to send rain in the spring.

He is the one who makes the storm clouds.

He sends down showers of rain on all people.

He gives everyone the plants in the fields.

2 Other gods tell lies.

Those who practice magic

see visions that aren’t true.

They tell dreams that fool people.

They give comfort that doesn’t do any good.

So the people wander around like sheep.

They are crushed because they don’t have a shepherd.

3 The Lord who rules over all says,

“My anger burns against the shepherds.

I will punish the leaders.

I will take care of my flock.

They are the people of Judah.

I will make them like a proud horse in battle.

4 The most important building stone

will come from the tribe of Judah.

The tent stake will also come from it.

And the bow that is used in battle will come from it.

In fact, every ruler will come from it.

5 Together they will be like soldiers in battle.

They will fight their way

through the muddy streets.

I will be with them.

So they will fight against the horsemen

and destroy them.

1 Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—

The Lord who makes the storm clouds;

And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man.

2 For the teraphim speak iniquity,

And the diviners see lying visions

And tell false dreams;

They comfort in vain.

Therefore the people wander like sheep,

They are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.

3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds,

And I will punish the male goats;

For the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah,

And will make them like His majestic horse in battle.

4 “From them will come the cornerstone,

From them the tent peg,

From them the bow of battle,

From them every ruler, all of them together.

5 “They will be as mighty men,

Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle;

And they will fight, for the Lord will be with them;

And the riders on horses will be put to shame.