A Prophecy against Israel’s Shepherds

1And the word came of YHWH to me, saying: 2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them—to the shepherds—thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves. Should it not be that the shepherds shepherd the flock? 3You⁺ eat the fat and in wool you⁺ clothe yourselves; you⁺ slaughter the fatlings; you⁺ do not feed the flock.

4Those being weak you⁺ have not strengthened, and those being sick you⁺ have not healed, and those being broken you⁺ have not bandaged, and those driven off you⁺ have not returned, and those being lost you⁺ have not sought, and you⁺ have ruled them with force and with harshness. 5And they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became as food for all the beasts of the field; indeed, they were scattered. 6My flock went astray through all the mountains, and on every high hill; and My flock was scattered over all the face of the earth, and there was not one searching or seeking them.’

7Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of YHWH! 8‘As I live—a declaration of the Lord YHWH—surely because My flock became as prey, and My flock became as food for every beast of the field, for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, and the shepherds shepherded themselves, and My flock they did not feed. 9Therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of YHWH:

10Thus says the Lord YHWH, ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock from their hands, and I will make them cease from shepherding the sheep, and the shepherds no longer will shepherd themselves; for I will snatch My flock from their mouths, and they will not be for them as food.’

The Good Shepherd
(Psalm 23:1–6; John 10:1–21)

11For thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Behold, I—I Myself—will search for My flock, and I will seek them. 12As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day of his being in the midst of his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out My flock,

and I will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered there on the day of cloud and darkness. 13And I will bring them out from the peoples, and I will gather them from the lands, and I will bring them to their own land, and I will let them graze on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14I will feed them in good pasture, and on the mountains of the height of Israel will be their grazing land; there they will lie down in good grazing land, and they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

15I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down, a declaration of the Lord YHWH. 16The one being lost I will seek, and the one driven away I will return, and the broken I will bind up, and the one being sick I will strengthen, and the fat one and the strong one I will destroy; I will shepherd her with justice.’

17And you⁺, My flock, thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Behold, I am going to judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the goats. 18Is it a little thing for you⁺ to feed on the good pasture, that the remainder of your⁺ pasture-land you⁺ would trample with your⁺ feet? And the clear waters you⁺ drink, that that the remainder you⁺ would muddy with your⁺ feet? 19And My flock, they feed on what you have trampled with your⁺ feet, and they drink what you have muddied with your⁺ feet!’

20Therefore, thus says the Lord YHWH to them: ‘Behold, I—I Myself—will judge between the fat of the flock and between the lean of the flock. 21Because you⁺ have pushed with flank and shoulder, and you⁺ have thrust with your⁺ horns all the weak ones, until that you⁺ have scattered them to the outside, 22I will bring salvation to My flock, and will they be no longer for prey; and I will judge between a sheep and a sheep. 23And I will raise up over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them—He will feed them and he will be unto them as shepherd. 24And I, YHWH, will be unto them God, and My servant David a prince among them. I, YHWH, have spoken.

The Covenant of Peace

25And I will cut with them a covenant of peace, and the evil beast I will make cease from the land, and they will dwell in the wilderness in safety, and they will sleep in the forests. 26And I will make them and the places around My hill to be a blessing, and I will send down showers in their season; there will be showers of blessing. 27And the trees of the field will give forth their fruit, and the earth will give forth her produce, and they will be upon their land in safety; and they will know that I am YHWH, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those enslaving them.

28And they will be no longer as prey for the nations, and the beasts of the land will not devour them; and they will dwell in safety, and no one will frighten them.

29And I will raise up for them a planting of renown, and will they be no longer consumed by hunger in the land, and they will bear no more the shame of the nations! 30And they will know that I, YHWH their God, am with them, and they are the house of Israel, My people,’ a declaration of the Lord YHWH.

31‘And you⁺ are My flock, the flock of My pasture. You⁺ are men, I am your⁺ God,’ a declaration of the Lord YHWH.”