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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.
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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.
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For thus hath the Lord GOD said: Behold, I,
even I, will both search and recognize my sheep.
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As the shepherd recognizes his flock in the day that he is among his sheep
that are scattered, so will I recognize my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
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And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the habitations of the country.
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I will feed them in good pastures and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there they shall sleep in a good fold, and in fat pastures they shall be fed upon the mountains of Israel.
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I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to have a fold, saith the Lord GOD.
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I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and will bind up
that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them in judgment.
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And
as for you, O my flock, thus hath the Lord GOD said: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between the rams and the he goats.
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Does it seem a small thing unto you that ye eat
of the good pastures, but ye
also tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and that
in drinking of the deep waters, ye must also foul the residue with your feet?