1
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto the pastors, Thus hath the Lord GOD said; Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3
Ye eat the milk, and ye clothe yourselves with the wool, ye kill those that are fat;
but ye do not feed the flock.
4
Ye have not strengthened the weak, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up
that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty ye have ruled them;
5
and they are dispersed because
there is no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and they were scattered.
6
My sheep
were lost
and wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill; my flock was dispersed upon all the face of the earth, and there was no one to search for them or to require
anything of them.
7
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
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as I live, said the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food to every beast of the field, without a pastor, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed my flock;
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therefore, O ye pastors, hear the word of the LORD.
10
Thus hath the Lord GOD said: Behold, I
am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any longer; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and they shall no longer be food for them.
11
For thus hath the Lord GOD said: Behold, I,
even I, will both search and recognize my sheep.