Study Desk

As I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"because My flock has become prey and food for every wild animal since they lack a shepherd, for My shepherds do not search for My flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than My flock,

"This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds. I will demand My flock from them and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue My flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.

"For this is what the Lord God says: See, I Myself will search for My flock and look for them.

As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy and dark day.

Isn't it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn't it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey for you. I will judge between one sheep and another.

They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild animals of the land will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten them.

I will establish for them a place renowned for its agriculture, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land. They will no longer endure the insults of the nations.

therefore, as I live"—this is the declaration of the Lord God —"I will destine you for bloodshed, and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.

therefore, prophesy and say: This is what the Lord God says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people's gossip and slander,

"You, mountains of Israel, will produce your branches and bear your fruit for My people Israel, since their arrival is near.

Then I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.

"Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act, house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations where you went.

"For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.

"Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.

It is not for your sake that I will act"—the declaration of the Lord God —"let this be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated because of your ways, house of Israel!

"This is what the Lord God says: I will respond to the house of Israel and do this for them: I will multiply them in number like a flock.

So the ruined cities will be filled with a flock of people, just as the flock of sheep for sacrifice is filled in Jerusalem during its appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am Yahweh."

My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances, and keep My statutes and obey them.

"This is what the Lord God says: Are you the one I spoke about in former times through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who for years prophesied in those times that I would bring you against them?