1Ask ye of Hashem rain in the time of the latter rain;
from Hashem who makes the storm clouds,
and gives them showers of rain,
to every one esev ³³in the sadeh.

2For the terafim (idols) have spoken aven (deceit, nothing),
and the diviners ³⁴envision sheker,
and have told false chalomot (dreams);
hevel is their comfort;
therefore the people wander like sheep,
oppressed for lack of a ro'eh (shepherd).

3Mine anger was kindled against the ro'im (shepherds),
and I punished the attudim (he-goats, leaders);
for Hashem Tzva'os hath visited His eder (flock),
Bais Yehudah,
and hath made them like His majestic war horse.

4From him ³⁵will come forth the Pinnah (Cornerstone), ³⁶
from him, the Yated (Tent Peg), ³⁷
from him, the Keshet Milchamah (battle bow), ³⁸
from him every ruler.

5Together they ³⁹shall be like gibborim,
which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the milchamah;
and they shall fight, because Hashem is with them,
and they shall overthrow the riders on susim.

6And I will strengthen the Bais Yehudah,
and I will save the Bais Yosef,
and I will restore them; for I have rachamim upon them;
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them;
for I am Hashem Eloheihem, and I will answer them.

7And they of Ephrayim shall be like a gibbor (mighty man),
and their lev shall have simcha as through yayin;
yea, their banim shall see, and have simcha,
and their lev shall rejoice in Hashem.

8I will whistle for them, and I will gather them in;
for I have redeemed them;
and they shall multiply as they have multiplied.

9And I will sow them among the peoples;
and they shall remember Me in far countries;
and they shall survive and live with their banim,
and they will return.

10I will bring them back again also out of Eretz Mitzrayim,
and gather them out of Assyria;
and I will bring them into the Eretz Gil'ad and Levanon;
until no more room shall be found for them.

11And He ⁴⁰shall pass through the yam of tzarah,
and shall strike the waves in the yam,
and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up;
and the ga'on (pride) of Assyria shall be cast down,
and the shevet (scepter) ⁴¹of Mitzrayim shall depart.

12And I will strengthen them ⁴²in Hashem;
and they shall walk in Shmo (His Name), saith Hashem.