Ezekiel 34

Prophecy Concerning Israel’s Shepherds and Sheep

1And the word of Yahweh ⌞came⌟
Literally “was”
to me, ⌞saying⌟,
2“Son of man,
Or “mortal,” or “son of humankind”
prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and you must say to them, to the shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves! Must not the shepherds feed the flock?
3The fat you eat, and you clothe yourself with the wool; the well-nourished animals you slaughter, but you do not feed the flock. 4The weak you have not strengthened, and the sick you have not healed, and ⌞with respect to⌟
Literally “for”
the hurt
Or “wounded”
you have not bound them up, and you have not brought back the scattered, and you have not sought the lost, but rather you ruled over them with force
Or “violence”
and with ruthlessness.
5And they were scattered ⌞without⌟
Literally “from not”
a shepherd, and they were
Or “became”
as food for all the animals
Hebrew “animal”
of the field when they were scattered.
6My flock went astray upon all of the mountains and on every high hill, and so upon all the surface of the world
Or “earth”
my flock were scattered, and ⌞there was no one seeking them⌟,
Literally “there was not someone seeking them”
and ⌞there was no one searching for them⌟.”
Literally “there was not someone searching for them”
7Therefore, hear, O shepherds, the word of Yahweh: 8“⌞As I live⌟,”
Literally “live I”
⌞declares⌟
Literally “declaration of”
the Lord Yahweh, “⌞Surely⌟
Literally “if not”
because my flock have become as plunder, and my flock became as food to
Or “for”
all the animals
Hebrew “animal”
of the field, since there was not a shepherd, since my shepherds have not sought my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and they fed not my flock,’ ”
9therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh, 10‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Look! I am against the shepherds, and I will seek my flock from their hand, and I will put an end to them from shepherding flocks, and the shepherds will ⌞no longer⌟
Literally “not any longer”
feed themselves, and I will deliver my flocks from their mouth, so that they will not be as food for them.”

11“ ‘For thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Look! I, even I, will seek my flock, and I will look after them, 12just like the caring of a shepherd for his herd on
Or “in”
the day when he is in the midst of his scattered flock. Thus I will look after my flock, and I will deliver them from all the places ⌞to which they were scattered⌟
Literally “which they were scattered there”
on the day ⌞of storm and stress⌟.
Literally “on the day of cloud and deep gloom”
13And I will bring them out from the peoples, and I will gather them from the countries, and I will bring them to their soil, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys, and in all of the settlements of the land. 14I will feed them in good pasture, and their pasture will be on the mountains of the heights of Israel; there they will lie down in good pasture, and on lush pasture they will feed on the mountains of Israel. 15⌞I myself⌟
Literally “I, I”
will feed my flock and ⌞I myself⌟
Literally “I, I”
will allow them to lie down,” ⌞declares⌟
Literally “declaration of”
the Lord Yahweh.
16“I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the scattered, and I will bind up the one hurt, and I will strengthen the sick; and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed her with justice.”

17“ ‘And you, my flock, thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Look! I am judging between ⌞one sheep and another⌟,
Literally “small sheep and small sheep”
between the rams and between the he-goats.
18⌞Is it not enough for you⌟
Literally “is it too little from you”
that you feed on the good pasture? And still you must trample the remainder of your pasture with your feet, and ⌞clear water⌟
Literally “and settling of water”
you drink, and the ⌞leftover water⌟
Literally “water being left”
you must make muddy with your feet.
19And my flock must graze the pasture treaded upon by
Hebrew “of”
your feet, and must drink the mud puddle stirred up by
Hebrew “of”
your feet.”

20“ ‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh to them: “Look! I, even I will judge between fat sheep and between lean sheep, 21because with your flank and with your shoulder you shoved, and with your horns you pushed all of the sick animals ⌞until⌟
Literally “until that”
you scattered it
Or “them”
to the outside.
22And so I will save my flock, and ⌞they will no longer be⌟
Literally “not they will be longer for plunder”
for plunder, and I will judge between ⌞one sheep and another⌟.
Literally “sheep and sheep”
23And I will set up over them one shepherd, and he will feed them; that is, my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be for them as
Or “like”
a shepherd.
24And I, Yahweh, I will be for them ⌞as God⌟,
Literally “to a God”
and my servant David will be a leader in the midst of them. I, Yahweh, I have spoken.
25And I will make them a covenant of peace, and I will put an end to wild animals
Hebrew “animal”
from the land, and they will dwell in the desert ⌞safely⌟,
Literally “with confidence/trust”
and they will sleep in the forest.
26And I will make them and the area all around my hill a blessing, and I will let the rain go down ⌞at its appointed time⌟;
Literally “in time his”
they will be rains of blessing.
27And the tree
Or “trees”
of the field will give its fruit, and the land will give its produce, and they will be on their land ⌞safely⌟,
Literally “with/in conficence”
and they will know that I am Yahweh when I break their yoke, and I will deliver them from the hand of the ones enslaving them.
28And they will not be any longer plunder to the nations, and the animals of the land will not eat them, and they will dwell ⌞in safety⌟,
Literally “with confidence”
and there will not be anyone frightening them.
29And I will raise for them a garden plot
Or “planting”
of renown, and they will ⌞no longer⌟
Literally “not any longer”
be victims of famine in the land, and they will not bear any more the insult of the nations.
30And they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am with them and they are my people, the house of Israel,” ⌞declares⌟
Literally “declaration of”
the Lord Yahweh,
31“and you are my flock, the flock of my pasture. You are ⌞my people⌟;
Literally “humanity, Mankind, human, mankind”
I am your God,” ⌞declares⌟
Literally “declaration of”
the Lord Yahweh.’ ”
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