⁷ “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ⁸ As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered^(A) and has become food for all the wild animals,^(B) and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,^{(C) 9} therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ¹⁰ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against^(D) the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue^(E) my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.^(F)

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep^(G) and look after them. ¹² As a shepherd^(H) looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.^{(I) 13} I will bring them out from the nations and gather^(J) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.^(K) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.^{(L) 14} I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel^(M) will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture^(N) on the mountains of Israel.^{(O) 15} I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,^(P) declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(Q) 16} I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up^(R) the injured and strengthen the weak,^(S) but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.^(T) I will shepherd the flock with justice.^(U)

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.^{(V) 18} Is it not enough^(W) for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet?^(X) Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?