My people have become lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them toward the mountains. They go from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.

They'll ask the way to Zion, turning their faces in that direction. They'll come and join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that won't be forgotten.

You were "like sheep that kept going astray," but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways,

Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life, but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.

My son, if you stop listening to instruction, you will stray from the principles of knowledge.

Then Israel's house won't wander away from me again, nor will they defile themselves again with all their transgressions. They'll become my people and I'll be their God," declares the Lord GOD.

Whoever wanders from the path of understanding will end up where the dead are gathered.

But the descendants of Levi, who went far away from me when Israel abandoned me, who left me to follow their idols, are to bear the punishment of their iniquity.

"The descendants of Zadok, Levitical priests who took care of my sanctuary when the Israelis wandered away from me, are to come near me to minister to me. They are to stand before me to offer the fat and the blood to me," declares the Lord GOD.

It is to be for use by priests from the descendants of Zadok, who have observed the things with which I charged them and who did not wander astray when the Israelis went astray, just as the descendants of Levi wandered astray.

Woe to them because they have run away from me. Ruin to them because they have sinned against me. Even though I redeemed them, they spread lies against me.

The more I called out to them, the farther they fled from me; they sacrificed to Baals, burning incense to carved images.

Before I was humbled, I wandered away, but now I observe your words.

Don't be led astray by her lifestyle, and don't imitate her behavior.

even though they had seen my actions for 40 years. That is why I was indignant with that generation and said, "They are always going astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.'

"But you priests turned aside from the way, and by your teaching you caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

All have turned away. They have become completely worthless. No one shows kindness, not even one person!

My brothers, if one of you wanders away from the truth and somebody brings him back,

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, each of us, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.