Thereforethussaysthe LORDGodof Israelconcerningthe shepherdswho are tendingMy people:"You have scatteredMy flockand driventhem away,and have not attendedto them; behold,I am about to attendto you for the evilof your deeds,"declaresthe LORD.
The bestof them is like a briar,The most uprightlike a thornhedge.The daywhen you post your watchmen,Your punishmentwill come.Thentheir confusionwill occur.
O houseof David,thussaysthe LORD:"Administerjusticeevery morning;And deliverthe [person] who has been robbedfrom the powerof [his] oppressor,That My wrathmay not goforthlike fireAnd burnwith noneto extinguish[it], Becauseof the evilof their deeds.
"But gonow,leadthe peoplewhereI toldyou. Behold,My angelshall gobeforeyou; nevertheless in the daywhen I punish,I will punishthem for their sin."
"Then as for the prophetor the priestor the peoplewhosay,The oracleof the LORD,'I will bringpunishmentupon that manand his household.
Pureand undefiledreligionin the sightof [our] Godand Fatheris this:to visitorphansand widowsin their distress,[and] to keeponeselfunstainedby the world.
I was a stranger,and you did not inviteMe in; naked,and you did not clotheMe; sick,and in prison,and you did not visitMe.'
"I will punishher for the daysof the BaalsWhenshe used to offersacrificesto them And adornherself with her earringsand jewelry,And followher lovers,so that she forgotMe," declaresthe LORD.
"Whatwill you saywhenHe appointsoveryou-- And you yourselfhad taughtthem-- Former companionsto be headoveryou? Will not pangstakeholdof you Likea womanin childbirth?
therefore,thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Behold,I am about to punishthem! The youngmenwill dieby the sword,their sonsand daughterswill dieby famine;
"Were they ashamedbecauseof the abominationthey had done?They certainlywere not ashamed,And they did not knowhow to blush;Thereforethey shall fallamong those who fall;At the timeof their punishmentthey shall be broughtdown,"Saysthe LORD.
Shall I not punishthese[people]?' declaresthe LORD,'On a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?'
"Shall I not punishthese[people]," declaresthe LORD,"And on a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?
naked,and you clothedMe; I was sick,and you visitedMe; I was in prison,and you cameto Me.'
For the shepherdshave becomestupidAnd have not soughtthe LORD;Thereforethey have not prospered,And alltheir flockis scattered.
But ifyou will not listento it, My soulwill sobin secretfor [such] pride;And my eyeswill bitterlyweepAnd flowdownwith tears,Becausethe flockof the LORDhas been takencaptive.
"Liftup your eyesand seeThose comingfrom the north.Whereis the flockthat was givenyou, Your beautifulsheep?
"So the LORDwas nolongerableto endure[it], becauseof the evilof your deeds,becauseof the abominationswhichyou have committed;thus your landhas becomea ruin,an objectof horrorand a curse,withoutan inhabitant,as [it is] thisday.
"They were scatteredfor lackof a shepherd,and they becamefoodfor everybeastof the fieldand were scattered.
"For behold,I am going to raiseup a shepherdin the landwho will not carefor the perishing,seekthe scattered,healthe broken,or sustainthe one standing,but will devourthe fleshof the fat[sheep] and tearofftheir hoofs.
"I, the LORD,searchthe heart,I testthe mind,Even to giveto eachmanaccording to his ways,According to the resultsof his deeds.
"My angeris kindledagainstthe shepherds,And I will punishthe malegoats;For the LORDof hostshas visitedHis flock,the houseof Judah,And will makethem like His majestichorsein battle.
