CHAPTER 34
“Son
of man,
prophesy
against
the shepherds
of Israel.
Prophesy
and tell
them
that this is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘Woe
to the shepherds
of Israel,
who
only feed
themselves!
Should not
the shepherds
feed
their flock?
You have not
strengthened
the weak,
healed
the sick,
bound up
the injured,
brought back
the strays,
or searched for
the lost.
Instead,
you have ruled
them with violence
and cruelty.
They were scattered
for lack of
a shepherd,
and when they were scattered,
they became
food
for all
the wild
beasts.
My flock
went astray
on all
the mountains
and
every
high
hill.
They were scattered
over the face
of all
the earth,
with no one
to search
or seek for them.’
‘As surely as I
live,
declares
the Lord
GOD,
because
My flock
lacks
a shepherd
and has become
prey
and
food
for every
wild
beast,
and because My shepherds
did not
search
for My flock
but fed
themselves
instead,
This is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘Behold,
I am against
the shepherds,
and I will demand
My flock
from them
and remove them
from tending
the flock,
so that they can no
longer
feed
themselves.
For I will deliver
My flock
from their mouths,
and it will no longer
be
food
for them.'
For
this is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘Behold,
I Myself
will search for
My flock
and seek them out.
As a shepherd
looks for
his scattered
sheep
when
he is
among
the flock,
so
I will look for
My flock.
I will rescue
them from
all
the places
to which
they have been scattered
on a day
of clouds
and darkness.
I will bring them out
from
the peoples,
gather
them from
the countries,
and bring
them into
their own land.
I will feed
them on
the mountains
of Israel,
in the ravines,
and in all
the settlements
of the land.
I will feed
them
in good
pasture,
and the lofty
mountains
of Israel
will be
their grazing land.
There
they will lie down
in a good
grazing land;
they will feed
in rich
pasture
on
the mountains
of Israel.
I will seek
the lost,
bring back
the strays,
bind up
the broken,
and strengthen
the weak;
but the sleek
and strong
I will destroy.
I will shepherd them
with justice.’
This is what
the Lord
GOD
says
to you,
My flock:
‘I will judge
between
one sheep
and another,
between the rams
and the goats.
Is it not enough
for
you to feed on
the good
pasture?
Must you also trample
the rest
of the pasture
with your feet?
Is not it enough for you to drink
the clear
water?
Must you also muddy
the rest
with your feet?
Therefore,
this is what
the Lord
GOD
says
to them:
‘Behold,
I Myself
will judge
between
the fat
sheep
and the lean
sheep.
Since
you shove
with flank
and shoulder,
and butt
all
the weak ones
with your horns
until
you scattered
them
abroad,
I will save
My flock,
and they will no
longer
be
prey.
I will judge
between
one sheep
and another.
I will appoint
over them
one
shepherd,
My servant
David,
and he will feed
them.
He
will feed
them
and
be
their
shepherd.
I,
the LORD,
will be
their God,
and My servant
David
will be a prince
among them.
I,
the LORD,
have spoken.’
‘I will make
with them
a covenant
of peace
and rid
the land
of
wild
animals,
so that they may dwell
securely
in the wilderness
and sleep
in the forest.
I will make
them
and the places all around
My hill
a blessing.
I will send down
showers
in their season—
showers
of blessing.
The trees
of the field
will give
their fruit,
and the land
will yield
its produce;
My flock will be
secure
in
their land.
They will know
that
I
am the LORD,
when I have broken
the bars
of their yoke
and delivered them
from the hands
that enslaved
them.
They will no
longer
be
prey
for the nations,
and the beasts
of the earth
will not
consume them.
They will dwell securely,
and no
one will frighten them.
And I will raise up
for them
a garden
of renown,
and they will no
longer
be
victims
of famine
in the land
or
bear
the scorn
of the nations.
Then they will know
that
I,
the LORD
their God,
am with them,
and that they,
the house
of Israel,
are My people,
declares
the Lord
GOD.
You
are My flock,
the sheep
of My pasture,
My people,
and I
am your God,’
declares
the Lord
GOD.”