9
therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD.
10
Thus saith 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, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more. For I will deliver My flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
11
"`For thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold I, even I, will both search My sheep and seek them out.
12
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock on the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out My sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered on the cloudy and dark day.
13
And 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 upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15
I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
16
I will seek that which was lost and bring back 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 with judgment.
17
"`And as for you, O My flock, thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the hegoats.
18
Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
19
And as for My flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
