1And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds, "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you kill the fat ones, but you do not feed the flock. 4You have not made the weak strong, nor have you healed the sick, nor have you bound up the broken. You have not brought again those that were driven away, nor have you sought that which was lost; but you have ruled them with force and with cruelty. 5And they were scattered for lack of a shepherd. And they became food to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill. Yea, My flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none searched nor sought for them."

7Therefore, you shepherds, hear the Word of the LORD, 8"As I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food to every beast of the field because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock," 9Therefore, O shepherds, hear the Word of the LORD. 10Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock. Nor shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouth that they may not be food for them."

11For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out My sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land and feed them on the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the places of the land where people live. 14I will feed them in a good pasture, and their fold shall be upon the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture they shall feed upon the mountains of Israel. 15I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down," says the Lord GOD. 16"I will seek that which was lost, and bring again those that were driven away, and will bind up the broken, and will strengthen the sick. But I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment."

17And you, My flock, thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I judge between lamb and lamb, between rams and he-goats. 18Is it a small thing for you to have eaten up the good pasture, but must you trample the rest of your pastures with your feet? And to have drunk of the clear waters, but must you foul the rest of it with your feet? 19And My flock, they eat what your feet have trampled, and they drink what your feet have fouled."

20Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them, "Behold I Myself will even judge between the fat lamb and the lean lamb. 21Because you have thrust with side and with shoulder, and with your horns have pushed all the weak until you have scattered them abroad, 22Therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no more be a prey. And I will judge between lamb and lamb.

23And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, My servant David. He shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 24And I the LORD will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I the LORD have spoken it.

25And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land. And they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26And I will make them, and the places around My hill, a blessing; and I will bring down the shower in its season. There shall be showers of blessing. 27And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. And they shall be safe in their land, and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and have delivered them out of the hands of those who enslaved them. 28And no more shall they be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beast of the land devour them. But they shall dwell safely, and none shall terrify them. 29And I will raise up for them plantations of renown, and they shall never again be consumed by famine in the land, nor shall they bear the shame of the nations any more. 30And they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people," says the Lord GOD. ' " 31"And you My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, are men, and I am your God," says the Lord GOD.