David was caring for sheep,\par but God took him away from that job.\par God gave David the job of caring for\par his people,\par the people of Jacob,\par the people of Israel,\par God’s property.\par
Words from wise men are like sharp sticks that people use to make their animals go the right way. Those teachings are like strong pegs that won’t break. \{You can trust those teachings to show you the right way to live.\} Those wise teachings all come from the same Shepherd (God).
The Lord will lead his people\par like a shepherd leads sheep.\par The Lord will use his arm (power)\par and gather his sheep together.\par The Lord will pick up the little sheep\par and hold them in his arms.\par Their mothers will walk beside him.\par
One of their own people will lead them.\par That ruler will come from my people.\par People can come close to me\par only if I ask them to.\par So I will ask that leader to come to me,\par and he will be close to me.\par
The people of Israel and Judah will not serve foreign countries. No! They will serve the Lord their God. And they will serve David their king, {\cf2\super [236]} I will send that king to them.
I will bring them back from those nations. I will gather them from those countries. I will bring them to their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, in all the places where people live.
I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel. One king will be king for all of them. They won’t continue to be two nations. They won’t be divided into two kingdoms any more.
After this the people of Israel will come back. Then they will look for the Lord their God, and for David their king. In the last days, they will come to honor the Lord and his goodness.
The Lord All-Powerful says, “Sword, hit the shepherd! Hit my friend! Hit the shepherd and the sheep will run away. And I will punish those little ones.
I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future there will be one flock and one shepherd.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to tell you these things for the churches (groups of believers). I am the descendant {\cf2\super [176]} from the family of David. {\cf2\super [177]} I am the bright morning star.”
The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of water that give life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”