Ezekiel 34:1-10

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Shepherds and God’s Flock

34 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them: This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves!^(A) Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock? ³ You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.^{(B) 4} You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost.^(C) Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. ⁵ They were scattered for lack of a shepherd;^(D) they became food for all the wild animals^(E) when they were scattered. ⁶ My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill.^(F) They were scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.

⁷ “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. ⁸ As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“because My flock has become prey and food for every wild animal since they lack a shepherd, for My shepherds do not search for My flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than My flock, ⁹ therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!

¹⁰ “This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds.^(G) I will demand My flock from them^[a] and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue My flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.