International Standard Version
Zechariah 10
1 “Ask the LORD for rain in the spring a — the LORD who fashions lightning thunderstorms, giving rain showers to mankind b along with grain in the fields. c
2 Truly the family idols d 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.
3 “Against the shepherds my anger rises— I am punishing the leaders e 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.
4 From them arises f the cornerstone and tent peg, from them the battle bow, from them arise all sorts of oppressive rulers.
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 g horsemen will be confused.
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.
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.
8 I will whistle for them, gathering them together, because I have redeemed them, and they will multiply as they were before. h
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.
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.
11 They i will pass through the sea of affliction, and they j will strike the waves k in that sea. All of the depths of the Nile will evaporate, Assyria’s arrogance will be brought down low, and the ruling power l of Egypt will disappear.
12 “I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they will march here and there in his name,” declares the LORD.