Quid enim bonum ejus est, et quid pulchrum ejus, nisi frumentum electorum, et vinum germinans virgines?

Ask ye of the Lord rain in the latter season, and the Lord will make snows, and will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

For rain in spring whom but the Lord entreat we? He it is, none else, fashions the snow, waters the crops on this farm or that.

Petite a Domino pluviam in tempore serotino, et Dominus faciet nives: et pluviam imbris dabit eis, singulis herbam in agro.

For the idols have spoken what was unprofitable, and the diviners have seen a lie, and the dreamers have spoken vanity: they comforted in vain: therefore they were led away as a flock: they shall be afflicted, because they have no shepherd.

Vain the false god’s foretelling, vainly diviner cheats us, and dreams delude; comfort they have none to give; such ways Israel has followed, like a flock of sheep untended, and to its cost.

Quia simulacra locuta sunt inutile, et divini viderunt mendacium: et somniatores locuti sunt frustra, vane consolabantur: idcirco abducti sunt quasi grex: affligentur, quia non est eis pastor.

My wrath is kindled against the shepherds, and I will visit upon the buck goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Juda, and hath made them as the horse of his glory in the battle.

What marvel if my anger blazed out against the shepherds? A reckoning I must have with yonder buck-goats; ay, the Lord of hosts would keep strict count of his flock, the sons of Juda.Who but Israel is the proud charger I will ride into battle?

Super pastores iratus est furor meus, et super hircos visitabo: quia visitavit Dominus exercituum gregem suum, domum Juda, et posuit eos quasi equum gloriæ suæ in bello.

Out of him shall come forth the corner, out of him the pin, out of him the bow of battle, out of him ever exacter together.

Corner-stone, he, of the building, peg of the tent’s rope, bow that shall win the day; spoilers of the world he, none other, shall send forth.

Ex ipso angulus, ex ipso paxillus, ex ipso arcus prælii, ex ipso egredietur omnis exactor simul.

And they shall be as mighty men,treading under foot the mire of the ways in battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders of horses shall be confounded.

Warriors they shall be that go out to battle trampling all before them in the mire; does not the Lord go out to battle at their side? Well mounted, their enemies could yet nothing win.

Et erunt quasi fortes conculcantes lutum viarum in prælio, et bellabunt, quia Dominus cum eis: et confundentur ascensores equorum.

And I will strengthen the house of Juda, and save the house of Joseph: and I will bring them back again, because I will have mercy on them: and they shall be as they were when I had cast them off, for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.

Such aid the men of Juda shall have, the sons of Joseph such deliverance; in pity I will restore them, and all shall be as it was before I cast them off from me; I am the Lord their God, shall I not heed them?

Et confortabo domum Juda, et domum Joseph salvabo: et convertam eos, quia miserebor eorum: et erunt sicut fuerunt quando non projeceram eos: ego enim Dominus Deus eorum, et exaudiam eos.

And they shall be as the valiant men of Ephraim, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: and their children shall see, and shall rejoice, and their heart shall be joyful in the Lord.

Ephraim, of great warriors the peer! Glad all hearts shall be, as when the wine-cup goes round; children of his shall acclaim the sight, and triumph lustily in the Lord.

Et erunt quasi fortes Ephraim, et lætabitur cor eorum quasi a vino: et filii eorum videbunt, et lætabuntur, et exsultabit cor eorum in Domino.

I will whistle for them, and I will gather them together, because I have redeemed them: and I will multiply them as they were multiplied before.

Flock of my ransoming, see how they gather at my call! Thriving now as they throve long since,

Sibilabo eis, et congregabo illos, quia redemi eos: et multiplicabo eos sicut ante fuerant multiplicati.

And I will sow them among peoples: and from afar they shall remember me: and they shall live with their children, and shall return.

yet scattered through the world, in those distant lands they shall remember me; with spirits revived, they and their children shall return.

Et seminabo eos in populis, et de longe recordabuntur mei: et vivent cum filiis suis, et revertentur.

And I will bring them back out of the land of Egypt, and I will gather them from among the Assyrians: and will bring them to the land of Galaad, and Libanus, and place shall not be found for them.

Back from Egypt, back from Assyria I will summon them, rally them, to Galaad and Lebanon bring them home; and that home shall be too small for them.

Et reducam eos de terra Ægypti, et de Assyriis congregabo eos, et ad terram Galaad et Libani adducam eos, et non invenietur eis locus:

And he shall pass over the strait of the sea, and shall strike the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the river shall be confounded, and the pride of Assyria shall be humbled, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart.

Crossed, yonder straits, the sea’s wave checked, depths of the river disappointed of their prey! Assyria’s pride brought low, empire of Egypt cut down!

et transibit in maris freto, et percutiet in mari fluctus, et confundentur omnia profunda fluminis: et humiliabitur superbia Assur, et sceptrum Ægypti recedet.

I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk in his name, saith theLord.

In the Lord they shall find strength, under his protection come and go; so runs the divine promise.