¹⁷ “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.^{(A) 18} Is it not enough^(B) for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet?^(C) Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? ¹⁹ Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

²⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.^{(D) 21} Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns^(E) until you have driven them away, ²² I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.^{(F) 23} I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend^(G) them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.^{(H) 24} I the Lord will be their God,^(I) and my servant David^(J) will be prince among them.^(K) I the Lord have spoken.^(L)

²⁵ “‘I will make a covenant^(M) of peace^(N) with them and rid the land of savage beasts^(O) so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.^{(P) 26} I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.^[a](Q) I will send down showers in season;^(R) there will be showers of blessing.^{(S) 27} The trees will yield their fruit^(T) and the ground will yield its crops;^(U) the people will be secure^(V) in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke^(W) and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.^{(X) 28} They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety,^(Y) and no one will make them afraid.^{(Z) 29} I will provide for them a land renowned^(AA) for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine^(AB) in the land or bear the scorn^(AC) of the nations.^{(AD) 30} Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(AE) 31} You are my sheep,^(AF) the sheep of my pasture,^(AG) and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(A) about those who sleep in death,^(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(C) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(E) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(I) and with the trumpet call of God,^(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(K) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(N) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(O) with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^(P) we do not need to write to you,^{(Q) 2} for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(R) will come like a thief in the night.^{(S) 3} While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(T) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(U) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(V)

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(W) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^{(X) 5} You are all children of the light^(Y) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(Z) but let us be awake^(AA) and sober.^{(AB) 7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^{(AC) 8} But since we belong to the day,^(AD) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(AE) and the hope of salvation^(AF) as a helmet.^{(AG) 9} For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(AH) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(AI) 10} He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^{(AJ) 11} Therefore encourage one another^(AK) and build each other up,^(AL) just as in fact you are doing.

²² “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name,^(A) which you have profaned^(B) among the nations where you have gone.^{(C) 23} I will show the holiness of my great name,^(D) which has been profaned^(E) among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,^(F) declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy^(G) through you before their eyes.^(H)

²⁴ “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.^{(I) 25} I will sprinkle^(J) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse^(K) you from all your impurities^(L) and from all your idols.^{(M) 26} I will give you a new heart^(N) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone^(O) and give you a heart of flesh.^{(P) 27} And I will put my Spirit^(Q) in you and move you to follow my decrees^(R) and be careful to keep my laws.^{(S) 28} Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people,^(T) and I will be your God.^{(U) 29} I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine^(V) upon you. ³⁰ I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.^{(W) 31} Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.^{(X) 32} I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed^(Y) and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!^(Z)

³³ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse^(AA) you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins^(AB) will be rebuilt.^{(AC) 34} The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. ³⁵ They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden;^(AD) the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.^(AE)” ³⁶ Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’^(AF)

³⁷ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea^(AG) and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,^{(AH) 38} as numerous as the flocks for offerings^(AI) at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.^(AJ)”

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke^(A) to our ancestors through the prophets^(B) at many times and in various ways,^{(C) 2} but in these last days^(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,^(E) whom he appointed heir^(F) of all things, and through whom^(G) also he made the universe.^{(H) 3} The Son is the radiance of God’s glory^(I) and the exact representation of his being,^(J) sustaining all things^(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,^(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.^{(M) 4} So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.^(N)

The Son Superior to Angels

⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say,

Or again,

⁶ And again, when God brings his firstborn^(Q) into the world,^(R) he says,

⁷ In speaking of the angels he says,

⁸ But about the Son he says,

¹⁰ He also says,

¹³ To which of the angels did God ever say,

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits^(AF) sent to serve those who will inherit^(AG) salvation?^(AH)