Study Desk

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

"Son of man, prophesy against the ^(a)shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to ^[a]those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord ^[b] God , "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been ^[c](b)feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds ^[d](c)feed the flock?

You ^(d)eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you ^(e)slaughter the fat sheep without ^[e]feeding the flock.

Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the ^[f]diseased you have not healed, ^(f)the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you ^(g)sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.

They were ^(h)scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became ⁽ⁱ⁾food for every beast of the field and were scattered.

My flock ^(j)wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; ^(k)My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was ^(l)no one to search or seek for them."'"

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord :

"As I live," declares the Lord God , "surely because My flock has become a ^(m)prey, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock;

therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord :

‘Thus says the Lord God , "Behold, I am ⁽ⁿ⁾against the shepherds, and I will demand My ^[g]sheep ^[h]from them and make them ^(o)cease from feeding ^[i]sheep. So the shepherds will not ^[j]feed themselves anymore, but I will ^(p)deliver My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them."'"