1. And the word of יהוה came to me, saying,
2. “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Yisra’ĕl, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה to the shepherds, “Woe to the shepherds of Yisra’ĕl who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
3. “You eat the fat and you put on the wool. You slaughter the fatlings – you do not feed the flock.
4. “You have not strengthened the weak, nor have you healed the sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back the straying, nor sought what was lost; but you have ruled them with might and harshness.
5. “And they were scattered because there was no shepherd. And they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
6. “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill. And My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.”
7. ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of יהוה:
8. “As I live,” declares the Master יהוה, “because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, from not having a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock,”
9. therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of יהוה!
10. ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am against the shepherds, and shall require My flock at their hand, and shall make them cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more. And I shall deliver My flock from their mouths, and they shall no longer be food for them.”
11. ‘For thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I Myself shall search for My sheep and seek them out.
12. “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so I shall seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered in a day of cloud and thick darkness.