Irresponsible Shepherds
1 And the word of theLordcame to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGodto the shepherds:“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; youslaughter the fatlings,butyou do not feed the flock.
4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, norsought what was lost; but withforce and cruelty you have ruled them.
5 So they werescattered becausetherewasno shepherd;and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
6 My sheepwandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searchingforthem.”
7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of theLord:
8 “AsI live,” says the LordGod, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flockbecame food for every beast of the field, becausetherewasno shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock,but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”—
9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of theLord!
10 Thus says the LordGod: “Behold, Iamagainst the shepherds, andI will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shallfeed themselves no more; for I willdeliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”
God, the True Shepherd
11 ‘For thus says the LordGod: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
12 As ashepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered ona cloudy and dark day.
13 AndI will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel.There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the LordGod.
16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroythe fat and the strong, and feed themin judgment.”
17 ‘Andasforyou, O My flock, thus says the LordGod:“Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.
18 Isittoo little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet?
19 AndasforMy flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”
20 ‘Therefore thus says the LordGodto them:“Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep.
21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad,
22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
23 I will establish oneshepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.
24 AndI, theLord, will be their God, and My servant Davida prince among them; I, theLord, have spoken.
25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them, andcause wild beasts to cease from the land; and theywill dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26 I will make them and the places all aroundMy hilla blessing; and I willcause showers to come down in their season; there shall beshowers of blessing.
27 Thenthe trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that IamtheLord, when I havebroken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those whoenslaved them.
28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; butthey shall dwell safely, and no one shall makethemafraid.
29 I will raise up for them agarden of renown, and they shallno longer be consumed with hunger in the land,nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.
30 Thus they shall know thatI, theLordtheir God,amwith them, and they, the house of Israel,areMy people,” says the LordGod.’
31 “You are Myflock, the flock of My pasture; youaremen,andIamyour God,” says the LordGod.