Ezekiel 34:1-10
Prophecy against the Shepherds of Israel
1 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the (A)shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to (a)those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord (b)God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been (c)(B)feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds (d)(C)feed the flock?
3 You (D)eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you (E)slaughter the fat sheep without (e)feeding the flock.
4 Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the (f)diseased you have not healed, (F)the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you (G)sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.
5 They were (H)scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became (I)food for every beast of the field and were scattered.
6 My flock (J)wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; (K)My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was (L)no one to search or seek for them.”’”
7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
8 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “surely because My flock has become a (M)prey, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock;
9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
10 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am (N)against the shepherds, and I will demand My (g)sheep (h)from them and make them (O)cease from feeding (i)sheep. So the shepherds will not (j)feed themselves anymore, but I will (P)deliver My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.”’”
Footnotes:
a.
Ezekiel 34:2: ['Lit ', them, the shepherds]
b.
Ezekiel 34:2: ['Heb ', YHWH, ', usually rendered ', Lord, ', and so throughout the ch']
c.
Ezekiel 34:2: ['Lit ', pasturing, pasture]
d.
Ezekiel 34:2: ['Lit ', pasturing, pasture]
e.
Ezekiel 34:3: ['Lit ', pasturing]
f.
Ezekiel 34:4: ['Lit ', sick]
g.
Ezekiel 34:10: ['Or (a) ', flock]
h.
Ezekiel 34:10: ['Lit ', from their hand]
i.
Ezekiel 34:10: ['Or (a) ', flock]
j.
Ezekiel 34:10: ['Lit ', pasture, ', and so throughout the ch']
Cross references:
C.
Ezekiel 34:2:
Psalm 78:71; Psalm 78:72; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:14; Ezekiel 34:15; John 10:11; John 21:15-17