SaveYour peopleand blessYour inheritance;Be their shepherdalso, and carrythem forever.
Thus Davidsaidto the Gibeonites,"Whatshould I dofor you? And howcan I makeatonementthat you may blessthe inheritanceof the LORD?"
"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?'"'
(for they are Your peopleand Your inheritancewhichYou have broughtforthfrom Egypt,from the midstof the ironfurnace),
"For You have separatedthem from allthe peoplesof the earthas Your inheritance,as You spokethroughMosesYour servant,when You broughtour fathersforthfrom Egypt,O LordGOD."
Everysurvivor,at whateverplacehe may live,let the menof that placesupporthim with silverand gold,with goodsand cattle,togetherwith a freewillofferingfor the houseof Godwhichis in Jerusalem.'"
Oh,that the salvationof Israelwould come out of Zion!When the LORDrestoresHis captivepeople,Jacobwill rejoice,Israelwill be glad.
RedeemIsrael,O God,Out of allhis troubles.
From the careof the eweswith sucklinglambsHe broughthim To shepherdJacobHis people,And IsraelHis inheritance.
Like a shepherdHe will tendHis flock,In His armHe will gatherthe lambsAnd carry[them] in His bosom;He will gently leadthe nursing[ewes].
"Listento Me, O houseof Jacob,And allthe remnantof the houseof Israel,You who have been borneby Me from birthAnd have been carriedfrom the womb;
In alltheir afflictionHe was afflicted,And the angelof His presencesavedthem; In His loveand in His mercyHe redeemedthem, And He liftedthem and carriedthem allthe daysof old.
The portionof Jacobis not like these;For the Makerof allis He, And Israelis the tribeof His inheritance;The LORDof hostsis His name.
For thussaysthe LORD,"Singaloudwith gladnessfor Jacob,And shoutamong the chiefof the nations;Proclaim,givepraiseand say,'O LORD,saveYour people,The remnantof Israel.'
"But as for you, BethlehemEphrathah,[Too] littleto be among the clansof Judah,From you One will goforthfor Me to be rulerin Israel.His goingsforthare from longago,From the daysof eternity."
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.
ShepherdYour peoplewith Your scepter,The flockof Your possessionWhich dwellsby itselfin the woodland,In the midstof a fruitfulfield.Let them feedin Bashanand GileadAs in the daysof old.
AND YOU, BETHLEHEM,LANDOF JUDAH,ARE BY NO MEANSLEASTAMONGTHE LEADERSOF JUDAH;FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTHA RULERWHOWILL SHEPHERDMY PEOPLEISRAEL.'"
[I pray that] the eyesof your heartmay be enlightened,sothat you will knowwhatis the hopeof His calling,whatare the richesof the gloryof His inheritancein the saints,
and in the wildernesswhereyou sawhowthe LORDyour Godcarriedyou, justas a mancarrieshis son,in allthe waywhichyou have walkeduntilyou cameto thisplace.'
"For the LORD'Sportionis His people;Jacobis the allotmentof His inheritance.
"I prayedto the LORDand said,'O LordGOD,do not destroyYour people,even Your inheritance,whomYou have redeemedthrough Your greatness,whomYou have broughtout of Egyptwith a mightyhand.
Yet they are Your people,even Your inheritance,whomYou have broughtout by Your greatpowerand Your outstretchedarm.'
