"In allplaces whereI have walkedwith allIsrael,have I spokena wordwith anyof the judgesof Israel,whomI commandedto shepherdMy people,saying,'Whyhave you not builtfor Me a houseof cedar?'"'
"WhereverI have gonewith allthe sonsof Israel,did I speaka wordwith oneof the tribesof Israel,whichI commandedto shepherdMy peopleIsrael,saying,'Whyhave you not builtMe a houseof cedar?'"'
Sincethe daythat I broughtMy peopleIsraelfrom Egypt,I did not choosea cityout of allthe tribesof Israel[in which] to builda housethat My namemight be there,but I choseDavidto be overMy peopleIsrael.'
"In timespast,evenwhen Saulwas king,you [were] the one who ledout and broughtin Israel;and the LORDyour Godsaidto you, 'You shall shepherdMy peopleIsrael,and you shall be princeoverMy peopleIsrael.'"
"Now,therefore, thusshall you sayto My servantDavid,'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"I tookyou from the pasture,from followingthe sheep,to be leaderoverMy peopleIsrael.
"I will also raiseup shepherdsoverthem and they will tendthem; and they will not be afraidanylonger,norbe terrified,norwill any be missing,"declaresthe LORD.
"Sonof man,prophesyagainstthe shepherdsof Israel.Prophesyand sayto those shepherds,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Woe,shepherdsof Israelwhohave beenfeedingthemselves! Should not the shepherdsfeedthe flock?
And He will ariseand shepherd[His flock] In the strengthof the LORD,In the majestyof the nameof the LORDHis God.And they will remain,Becauseat that timeHe will be greatTo the endsof the earth.
AND YOU, BETHLEHEM,LANDOF JUDAH,ARE BY NO MEANSLEASTAMONGTHE LEADERSOF JUDAH;FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTHA RULERWHOWILL SHEPHERDMY PEOPLEISRAEL.'"
"Afterthese thingsHe gave[them] judgesuntilSamuelthe prophet.
Orwhatagreementhas the templeof Godwith idols?For we are the templeof the livingGod;justas Godsaid,"I WILL DWELLIN THEM AND WALK AMONGTHEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
"Sincethe LORDyour Godwalksin the midstof your campto deliveryou and to defeatyour enemiesbeforeyou, therefore your campmust be holy;and He must not seeanythingindecentamong you or He will turnawayfrom you.
"To the angelof the churchin Ephesuswrite:The One who holdsthe sevenstarsin His right hand,the One who walksamongthe sevengoldenlampstands,saysthis:
"Then the LORDsentJerubbaaland Bedanand Jephthahand Samuel,and deliveredyou from the handsof your enemiesallaround,so that you livedin security.
