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The Lord Will Take Care of Judah

10 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.

3The 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.

6 “I will make the family of Judah strong.

I will save the people of Joseph.

I will bring them back

because I have tender love for them.

It will be as if

I had not sent them away.

I am the Lord their God.

I will help them.

7 The people of Ephraim will become like mighty men.

Their hearts will be glad

as if they were drinking wine.

Their children will see it

and be filled with joy.

I will make their hearts glad.

8 I will whistle for my people

and gather them in.

I will set them free.

There will be as many of them as before.

9 I have scattered them among the nations.

But in lands far away they will remember me.

They and their children will be kept alive.

And they will return.

10 I will bring them back from Egypt.

I will gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon.

There will not be enough room for them.

11 They will pass through a sea of trouble.

The stormy sea will calm down.

All of the deep places in the Nile River will dry up.

Assyria’s pride will be brought down.

Egypt’s right to rule will disappear.

12 I will make my people strong.

They will worship and obey me,”

announces the Lord.

NIrV

About New International Reader’s Version (1998)

The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) was developed to help early readers understand the Bible. Begun in 1992, the NIrV is a simplification of the New International Version (NIV). The NIrV uses shorter words and sentences so that those with a typical fourth grade reading level can comprehend what they are reading. The chapters have been separated into shorter sections and most have titles that clearly indicate what the section is all about. The NIrV will be a valuable translation to those for whom English is a second language. The NIrV still relies on the best and oldest copies of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts for its translation, guaranteeing that those who read it are getting the actual Word of God.

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