²² therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. ²³ I will establish one ^(A)shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—^(B)My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. ²⁴ And ^(C)I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David ^(D)a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

^25 (E)“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and ^(F)cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they ^(G)will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. ²⁶ I will make them and the places all around ^(H)My hill ^(I)a blessing; and I will ^(J)cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be ^(K)showers of blessing. ²⁷ Then ^(L)the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have ^(M)broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who ^(N)enslaved them. ²⁸ And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but ^(O)they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. ²⁹ I will raise up for them a ^(P)garden^[a] of renown, and they shall ^(Q)no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, ^(R)nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. ³⁰ Thus they shall know that ^(S)I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are ^(T)My people,” says the Lord God.’

²² And see, now ^(A)I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ²³ except that ^(B)the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ^24 [a]But ^(C)none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, ^(D)so that I may finish my ^[b]race with joy, ^(E)and the ministry ^(F)which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am ^(G)innocent^[c] of the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not ^[d]shunned to declare to you ^(H)the whole counsel of God. ^28 (I)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit ^(J)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church ^[e]of God ^(K)which He purchased ^(L)with His own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure ^(M)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also ^(N)from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking ^[f]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember that ^(O)for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

³² “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and ^(P)to the word of His grace, which is able ^(Q)to build you up and give you ^(R)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and ^(A)I know My sheep, and ^(B)am known by My own. ^15 (C)As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; ^(D)and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And ^(E)other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; ^(F)and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

¹⁷ “Therefore My Father ^(G)loves Me, ^(H)because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I ^(I)have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. ^(J)This command I have received from My Father.”

¹⁹ Therefore ^(K)there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. ²⁰ And many of them said, ^(L)“He has a demon and is ^[a]mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

²¹ Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. ^(M)Can a demon ^(N)open the eyes of the blind?”

The Shepherd Knows His Sheep

²² Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. ²³ And Jesus walked in the temple, ^(O)in Solomon’s porch. ²⁴ Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in ^[b]doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. ^(P)The works that I do in My Father’s name, they ^(Q)bear witness of Me. ²⁶ But ^(R)you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, ^[c]as I said to you. ^27 (S)My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ^29 (T)My Father, ^(U)who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ^30 (V)I and My Father are one.”