6. My sheep wandered all over the mountains and high hills. They were scattered over the whole earth. No one searched for them. No one looked for them."
7. " 'Shepherds, listen to the Lord's message.
8. He says, "My flock does not have a shepherd. Many of my sheep have been stolen. They have become food for all of the wild animals. My shepherds did not care for my sheep. They did not even search for them. Instead, they only took care of themselves. And that is just as sure as I am alive," announces the Lord and King.
9. " 'Shepherds, listen to the Lord's message.
10. The Lord and King says, "I am against the shepherds. I will hold them accountable for my flock. I will stop them from taking care of the flock. Then they will not be able to feed themselves anymore. I will save my flock from their mouths. My sheep will no longer be food for them." ' "
11. The Lord and King says, "I myself will search for my sheep. I will look after them.
12. A shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them. And I will look after my sheep. I will save them from all of the places where they were scattered on a dark and cloudy day.
13. "I will bring them out from among the nations. I will gather them together from other countries. I will bring them into their own land. They will eat grass on the mountains of Israel. I will also let them eat in the valleys and in all of the places in the land where people live.
14. I will take care of them in the best grasslands. They will eat grass on the high mountains of Israel. There they will lie down in the finest grasslands. They will eat grass in the best places on Israel's mountains.
15. "I myself will take care of my sheep. I will let them lie down in safety," announces the Lord and King.
16. "I will search for the lost. I will bring back those that have wandered away. I will bandage the ones that are hurt. I will make the weak ones stronger. But I will destroy those that are fat and strong. I will take good care of my sheep. I will treat them fairly."
17. The Lord and King says, "You are my flock. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will judge between rams and goats.
18. You already eat in the best grasslands. Must you also stomp all over the other fields? You already drink clear water. Must you also make the rest of the water muddy with your feet?
19. Must my flock have to eat the grass you have stomped on? Must they drink the water you have made muddy?"
20. So the Lord and King speaks to them. He says, "I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep.