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1. Pray to the Lord for rain in the springtime. The Lord will send the lightning and the rain will fall, and he will make the plants grow in each person's field.
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1. Ask H7592 ye of the LORD H4480 H3068 rain H4306 in the time H6256 of the latter rain H4456 ; so the LORD H3068 shall make H6213 bright clouds H2385 , and give H5414 them showers H1653 of rain H4306 , to every one H376 grass H6212 in the field H7704 .
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2. People use their little statues and magic to learn what will happen in the future, but that is useless. They see visions and tell about their dreams, but it is nothing but worthless lies. So the people are like sheep wandering here and there crying for help, but there is no shepherd to lead them.
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2. For H3588 the idols H8655 have spoken H1696 vanity H205 , and the diviners H7080 have seen H2372 a lie H8267 , and have told H1696 false H7723 dreams H2472 ; they comfort H5162 in vain H1892 : therefore H5921 H3651 they went their way H5265 as H3644 a flock H6629 , they were troubled H6031 , because H3588 there was no H369 shepherd H7462 .
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3. The Lord says, "I am very angry with the shepherds. I made them responsible for what happens to my sheep." (The people of Judah are his flock, and the Lord All- Powerful really does take care of his flock. He cares for them as a soldier cares for his beautiful war horse.)
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3. Mine anger H639 was kindled H2734 against H5921 the shepherds H7462 , and I punished H6485 H5921 the goats H6260 : for H3588 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath visited H6485 H853 his flock H5739 H853 the house H1004 of Judah H3063 , and hath made H7760 them as his goodly H1935 horse H5483 in the battle H4421 .
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4. "The cornerstone, the tent peg, the war bow, and the advancing soldiers will all come {from Judah} together.
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4. Out of H4480 him came forth H3318 the corner H6438 , out of H4480 him the nail H3489 , out of H4480 him the battle H4421 bow H7198 , out of H4480 him every H3605 oppressor H5065 together H3162 .
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5. {They will defeat their enemy}�it will be like soldiers marching through mud in the streets. They will fight, and since the Lord is with them, they will defeat even the enemy soldiers riding horses.
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5. And they shall be H1961 as mighty H1368 men , which tread down H947 their enemies in the mire H2916 of the streets H2351 in the battle H4421 : and they shall fight H3898 , because H3588 the LORD H3068 is with H5973 them , and the riders H7392 on horses H5483 shall be confounded H954 .
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6. I will make Judah's family strong. I will help Joseph's family win the war. I will bring them back safely and comfort them. It will be as if I never left them. I am the Lord their God, and I will help them.
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6. And I will strengthen H1396 H853 the house H1004 of Judah H3063 , and I will save H3467 the house H1004 of Joseph H3130 , and I will bring them again H7725 to place them ; for H3588 I have mercy upon H7355 them : and they shall be H1961 as though H834 I had not H3808 cast them off H2186 : for H3588 I H589 am the LORD H3068 their God H430 , and will hear H6030 them.
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7. The people of Ephraim will be as happy as soldiers who have too much to drink. Their children will be rejoicing and they, too, will be happy. They will all have a happy time together with the Lord.
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7. And they of Ephraim H669 shall be H1961 like a mighty H1368 man , and their heart H3820 shall rejoice H8055 as through H3644 wine H3196 : yea , their children H1121 shall see H7200 it , and be glad H8055 ; their heart H3820 shall rejoice H1523 in the LORD H3068 .
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8. "I will whistle for them and call them all together. I really will save them. There will be many people.
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8. I will hiss H8319 for them , and gather H6908 them; for H3588 I have redeemed H6299 them : and they shall increase H7235 as H3644 they have increased H7235 .
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9. Yes, I have been scattering my people throughout the nations. But in those faraway places, they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will come back.
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9. And I will sow H2232 them among the people H5971 : and they shall remember H2142 me in far countries H4801 ; and they shall live H2421 with H854 their children H1121 , and turn again H7725 .
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10. I will bring them back from Egypt and Assyria. I will bring them to the area of Gilead. And since there will not be enough room, I will also let them live in nearby Lebanon."
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10. I will bring them again H7725 also out of the land H4480 H776 of Egypt H4714 , and gather H6908 them out of Assyria H4480 H804 ; and I will bring H935 them into H413 the land H776 of Gilead H1568 and Lebanon H3844 ; and place shall not H3808 be found H4672 for them.
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11. As before, the Lord will strike the waves, and the people will walk across their sea of troubles. He will make the waters of the Nile River dry up. He will destroy Assyria's pride and Egypt's power.
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11. And he shall pass H5674 through the sea H3220 with affliction H6869 , and shall smite H5221 the waves H1530 in the sea H3220 , and all H3605 the deeps H4688 of the river H2975 shall dry up H3001 : and the pride H1347 of Assyria H804 shall be brought down H3381 , and the scepter H7626 of Egypt H4714 shall depart away H5493 .
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12. He will make his people strong, and they will live for him and his name. This is what the Lord said.
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12. And I will strengthen H1396 them in the LORD H3068 ; and they shall walk up and down H1980 in his name H8034 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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