Askrainfrom the LORDat the timeof the springrain--The LORDwho makesthe stormclouds;And He will givethem showersof rain,vegetationin the fieldto [each] man.
Now Elijahthe Tishbite,who was of the settlersof Gilead,saidto Ahab,"As the LORD,the Godof Israellives,beforewhomI stand,surelythere shall be neitherdewnor raintheseyears,exceptby my word."
"They waitedfor me as for the rain,And openedtheir mouthas for the springrain.
He watersthe mountainsfrom His upperchambers;The earthis satisfiedwith the fruitof His works.
He causes the vaporsto ascendfrom the endsof the earth;Who makeslightningsfor the rain,Who bringsforththe windfrom His treasuries.
You visitthe earthand cause it to overflow;You greatlyenrichit; The streamof Godis fullof water;You preparetheir grain,for thusYou preparethe earth.
May he comedownlike rainupon the mowngrass, Like showersthat waterthe earth.
In the lightof a king'sfaceis life,And his favoris like a cloudwith the springrain.
Then He will give[you] rainfor the seedwhichyou will sowin the ground,and bread[from] the yieldof the ground,and it will be richand plenteous;on that dayyour livestockwill grazein a roomypasture.
For I will pourout wateron the thirsty[land] And streamson the dryground;I will pourout My Spiriton your offspringAnd My blessingon your descendants;
"I will layit waste;It will not be prunedor hoed,But briarsand thornswill comeup. I will also chargethe cloudsto rainnorainon it."
When He uttersHis voice,[there is] a tumultof watersin the heavens,And He causes the cloudsto ascendfrom the endof the earth;He makeslightningfor the rain,And bringsout the windfrom His storehouses.
Are thereanyamong the idolsof the nationswho giverain?Orcan the heavensgrantshowers?Is it not You, O LORDour God?Therefore we hopein You, For You are the one who has doneallthesethings.
They do not sayin their heart,"Let us nowfearthe LORDour God,Who givesrainin its season,Both the autumnrainand the springrain,Who keepsfor us The appointedweeksof the harvest."
When He uttersHis voice,[there is] a tumultof watersin the heavens,And He causes the cloudsto ascendfrom the endof the earth;He makeslightningfor the rainAnd bringsforththe windfrom His storehouses.
"I will makethem and the placesaroundMy hilla blessing.And I will cause showersto comedownin their season;they will be showersof blessing.
Thussaysthe LordGOD,"ThisalsoI will let the houseof IsraelaskMe to dofor them: I will increasetheir menlike a flock.
Sowwith a view to righteousness,Reapin accordancewith kindness;Breakup your fallowground,For it is timeto seekthe LORDUntilHe comesto rainrighteousnesson you.
"So let us know,let us presson to knowthe LORD.His goingforthis as certainas the dawn;And He will cometo us like the rain,Like the springrainwateringthe earth."
"Furthermore,I withheldthe rainfrom you While [there were] stillthreemonthsuntil harvest.Then I would sendrainon onecityAnd on anothercityI would not sendrain;Onepartwould be rainedon, While the partnot rainedon would dryup.
Then the remnantof JacobWill be amongmanypeoplesLike dewfrom the LORD,Like showerson vegetationWhichdo not waitfor manOr delayfor the sonsof men.
"In that dayyou will not questionMe about anything.Truly,truly,I sayto you, ifyou askthe Fatherfor anythingin My name,He will giveit to you.
I planted,Apolloswatered,but Godwas causing the growth.
"The heavenwhichis overyour headshall be bronze,and the earthwhichis underyou, iron.
Thereforebe patient,brethren,untilthe comingof the Lord.The farmerwaitsfor the preciousproduceof the soil,being patientaboutit, untilit getsthe earlyand laterains.
