The Lord Gathers His Flock

Zechariah 10

The Lord urges the people to ask him, not false diviners, for rain, and rebukes the shepherds who have led the flock astray. He promises to strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph, gathering his scattered people back from Egypt and Assyria into the land, so that they may again rejoice and boast in his name.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonASK ye of the Lord rain in its season, the early and later rain. The Lord hath made signs, and He will give rain in plenty—to each one herbage in his field.

BrentonAsk ye of the Lord rain in season, the early and the latter: the Lord has given bright signs, and will give them abundant rain, to every one grass in the field.

GreekΑἰτεῖσθε παρὰ Κυρίου ὑετὸν καθʼ ὥραν, πρώϊμον καὶ ὄψιμον· Κύριος ἐποίησε φαντασίας, καὶ ὑετὸν χειμερινὸν δώσει αὐτοῖς, ἑκάστῳ βοτάνην ἐν ἀγρῷ.

KJVAsk ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

JPSAsk ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain, Even of the LORD that maketh lightnings; And He will give them showers of rain, To every one grass in the field.

ThomsonBecause the prophesiers preached grievous things, and the diviners told false visions and lying dreams—gave false comfort, therefore they were dried up. Like sheep they were afflicted. Because there was no healing;

BrentonFor the speakers have uttered grievous things, and the diviners have seen false visions, and they have spoken false dreams, they have given vain comfort: therefore have they fallen away like sheep, and been afflicted, because there was no healing.

GreekΔιότι οἱ ἀποφθεγγόμενοι ἐλάλησαν κόπους, καὶ οἱ μάντεις ὁράσεις ψευδεῖς, καὶ τὰ ἐνύπνια ψευδῆ ἐλάλουν, μάταια παρεκάλουν· διατοῦτο ἐξηράνθησαν ὡς πρόβατα, καὶ ἐκακώθησαν, διότι οὐκ ἦν ἴασις.

KJVFor the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

JPSFor the teraphim have spoken vanity, And the diviners have seen a lie, And the dreams speak falsely, They comfort in vain; Therefore they go their way like sheep, They are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.

Thomsonagainst the shepherds My wrath is kindled; but over the lambs I will keep a strict watch. The Lord God Almighty will indeed watch over His flock, the house of Juda, and He will array them as His comely horse in battle.

BrentonMine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I will visit the lambs; and the Lord God Almighty shall visit his flock, the house of Juda, and he shall make them as his goodly horse in war.

GreekἘπὶ τοὺς ποιμένας παρωξύνθη ὁ θυμός μου, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀμνοὺς ἐπισκέψομαι· καὶ ἐπισκέψεται Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ, τὸν οἶκον Ἰούδα, καὶ τάξει αὐτοὺς ὡς ἵππον εὐπρεπῆ αὐτοῦ ἐν πολέμῳ,

KJVMine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.

JPSMine anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the he-goats; For the LORD of hosts hath remembered His flock the house of Judah, And maketh them as His majestic horse in the battle.

ThomsonWhen from him [i.e. Juda] He hath looked, and from him drawn up in array; then from him shall issue forth the wrathful bow, from him every expeller [of oppression] at the same time.

BrentonAnd from him he looked, and from him he set the battle in order, and from him came the bow in anger, and from him shall come forth every oppressor together.

Greekκαὶ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπέβλεψε, καὶ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἔταξε, καὶ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ τόξον ἐν θυμῷ, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐξελεύσεται πᾶς ὁ ἐξελαύνων ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ.

KJVOut of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

JPSOut of them shall come forth the corner-stone, Out of them the stake, Out of them the battle bow, Out of them every master together.

ThomsonAnd they shall be like warriors trampling dirt in the highways, and shall be drawn up in array for battle. Because the Lord is with them, therefore the riders on horses shall be put to shame.

BrentonAnd they shall be as warriors treading clay in the ways in war; and they shall set the battle in array, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσονται ὡς μαχηταὶ πατοῦντες πηλὸν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς ἐν πολέμῳ, καὶ παρατάξονται, διότι Κύριος μετʼ αὐτῶν· καὶ καταισχυνθήσονται ἀναβάται ἵππων.

KJVAnd they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.

JPSAnd they shall be as mighty men, Treading down in the mire of the streets in the battle, And they shall fight, because the LORD is with them; And the riders on horses shall be confounded.

ThomsonAnd I will strengthen the house of Juda, and save the house of Joseph, and settle them in their houses,—because I have loved them. And they shall be as if I had not cast them off; for I am the Lord their God and I will hearken to them;

BrentonAnd I will strengthen the house of Juda, and save the house of Joseph, and I will settle them; because I have loved them: and they shall be as if I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.

GreekΚαὶ κατισχύσω τὸν οἶκον Ἰούδα, καὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰωσὴφ σώσω, καὶ κατοικιῶ αὐτοὺς, ὅτι ἠγάπησα αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔσονται, ὃν τρόπον οὐκ ἀπεστρεψάμην αὐτούς· διότι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐπακούσομαι αὐτοῖς,

KJVAnd I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.

JPSAnd I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them back, for I have compassion upon them, And they shall be as though I had not cast them off; For I am the LORD their God, and I will hear them.

Thomsonand they shall be like the warriors of Ephraim; and their heart shall be gladdened as with wine; and their children shall see and be made glad; and their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.

BrentonAnd they shall be as the warriors of Ephraim, and their heart shall rejoice as with wine: and their children also shall see it, and be glad; and their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.

Greekκαὶ ἔσονται ὡς μαχηταὶ τοῦ Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ χαρήσεται ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ὡς ἐν οἴνῳ· καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν ὄψονται, καὶ εὐφρανθήσονται, καὶ χαρεῖται ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ.

KJVAnd they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.

JPSAnd they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as through wine; Yea, their children shall see it, And rejoice, their heart shall be glad in the LORD.

ThomsonI will make a signal for them and receive them in, for I will redeem them and they shall multiply as before.

BrentonI will make a sign to them, and gather them in; for I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied according to their number before.

GreekΣημανῶ αὐτοῖς, καὶ εἰσδέξομαι αὐτοὺς, διότι λυτρώσομαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ πληθυνθήσονται καθότι ἦσαν πολλοί.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThough I sow them among peoples, yet they who are far off will remember Me. They shall nurture up their children and return:

BrentonAnd I will sow them among the people; and they that are afar off shall remember me: they shall nourish their children, and they shall return.

GreekΚαὶ σπερῶ αὐτοὺς ἐν λαοῖς, καὶ οἱ μακρὰν μνησθήσονταί μου, ἐκθρέψουσι τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπιστρέψουσι.

KJVAnd I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.

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

Thomsonand I will bring them back out of the land of Egypt, and gather them from amongst the Assyrians; and bring them to Galaaditis and Lebanon and not one of them shall be left behind.

BrentonAnd I will bring them again from the land of Egypt, and I will gather them in from among the Assyrians; and I will bring them into the land of Galaad and to Libanus; and there shall not even one of them be left behind.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπιστρέψω αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐξ Ἀσσυρίων εἰσδέξομαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ εἰς τὴν Γαλααδίτιν, καὶ εἰς τὸν Λίβανον εἰσάξω αὐτοὺς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ὑπολειφθῇ ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐδὲ εἷς.

KJVI will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.

JPSI will bring them back also out of the land of Egypt, And gather them out of Assyria; And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; And place shall not suffice them.

ThomsonAnd they shall cross over a narrow sea and lash waves at haughtiness of the Assyrians shall be removed; and the sceptre of Egypt shall be taken quite away.

BrentonAnd they shall pass through a narrow sea, they shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deep places of the rivers shall be dried up: and all the pride of the Assyrians shall be taken away, and the sceptre of Egypt shall be removed.

GreekΚαὶ διελεύσονται ἐν θαλάσσῃ στενῇ, πατάξουσιν ἐν θαλάσσῃ κύματα, καὶ ξηρανθήσεται πάντα τὰ βάθη ποταμῶν, καὶ ἀφαιρεθήσεται πᾶσα ὕβρις Ἀσσυρίων, καὶ σκῆπτρον Αἰγύπτου περιαιρεθήσεται.

KJVAnd he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.

JPSAnd over the sea affliction shall pass, And the waves shall be smitten in the sea, And all the depths of the Nile shall dry up; And the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, And the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. .

ThomsonAnd 1 will strengthen them in the Lord their God, and in His name they shall boast; saith the Lord

BrentonAnd I will strengthen them in the Lord their God; and they shall boast in his name, saith the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ κατισχύσω αὐτοὺς ἐν Κυρίῳ Θεῷ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ κατακαυχήσονται, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVAnd I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.

JPSAnd I will strengthen them in the LORD; And they shall walk up and down in His name, Saith the LORD.