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[1] Pray the Lorde then betimes to geue the latter rayne, so shall the Lorde make bright cloudes, and geue you rayne inough, and to euery one grasse in the fielde
[2] For vaine is the aunswere of idols, the soothsayers see lyes, & the dreamers tell but vaine thinges, the comfort that they geue is nothing worth: therefore they went away lyke a flocke of sheepe, and were troubled, because they had no shephearde
[3] My wrothfull displeasure was moued against the shepheardes, and I wyll visite the goates: for the Lorde of hoastes wyl visite his flocke the house of Iuda, and wyll make them as a goodly fayre horse in the battaile
[4] Out of Iuda shall come the corner, the nayle, the battel bowe, and the appoynter of tribute also
[5] They shalbe as giauntes, which in the battaile treade downe their enemies in the myre of the streetes: they shal fight, for the Lorde shalbe with them, and the horsemen shalbe confounded
[6] I wyll comfort the house of Iuda, & preserue the house of Ioseph, I wyll bring them againe, for I pitie them, and they shalbe like as they were when I had not cast them of: for I the lord am their God, and wyll heare them
[7] Ephraim shalbe as a giaunt, and their heart shalbe cheareful as through wine: yea their children shal see it, and be glad, and their heart shal reioyce in the Lord
[8] I wyll hisse for them, & gather them together, for I wyl redeeme them: they shal encrease, as they encreased afore
[9] I wyll sowe them among the people, that they may thincke vpon me in farre countryes, they shal liue with their children, and turne againe
[10] I wyll bring them againe also from the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria: I wyll cary them into the lande of Gilead & to Libanus, and place shall not be founde for them
[11] He shal go vpon the sea of trouble, and smyte the sea waues, so that all the depe floodes shalbe dryed vp: the proude boasting of Assur shalbe cast downe, & the scepter of Egypt shalbe taken away
[12] I wil comfort them in ye lord, that they may walke in his name, saith the Lord
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