² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: ^(A)“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

The Branch of Righteousness

23 “Woe ^(A)to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord.

¹⁵ And I will give you ^(A)shepherds according to My heart, who will ^(B)feed you with knowledge and understanding.

⁸ “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock ^(A)became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, ^(B)but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— ⁹ therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! ¹⁰ Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am ^(C)against the shepherds, and ^(D)I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall ^(E)feed themselves no more; for I will ^(F)deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

^46 (A)“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, ^(B)love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, ^47 (C)who devour widows’ houses, and for a ^(D)pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction ^[a]does not slumber.