34 2 Against the shepherds that despised the flock of Christ, and seek their own reign. 7 The Lord saith that he will visit his dispersed flock, and gather them together. 23 He promiseth the true shepherd Christ, and with him peace.

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds, (A)Woe be unto the [a]shepherds of Israel, that feed themselves: should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Ye eat the [b]fat, and ye clothe you with the wool: ye kill them that are fed, but ye feed not the sheep.

The [c]weak have ye not strengthened: the sick have ye not healed, neither have ye bound up the broken, nor brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost, but with cruelty, and with rigor have ye ruled them.

And they were scattered without a shepherd: and when they were dispersed, they were [d]devoured of all the beasts of the field.

My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered through all the earth, and none did seek or search after them.

Therefore ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.

As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock was spoiled, and my sheep were devoured of all the beasts of the field, having no shepherd, neither did my shepherds seek my sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my sheep,

Therefore, hear ye the word of the Lord, O ye shepherds.

10 Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I come against the shepherds, and will require my sheep at their hands, and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep: neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore: for I will deliver thy sheep from [e]their mouths, and they shall no more devour them.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:2 By the shepherds he meaneth the king, the Magistrates, Priests, and Prophets.
  2. Ezekiel 34:3 Ye seek to enrich yourselves by their commodities, and to spoil their riches and substance.
  3. Ezekiel 34:4 He describeth the office and duty of a good pastor, who ought to love and succor his flock, and not to be cruel toward them.
  4. Ezekiel 34:5 For lack of good government and doctrine they perished.
  5. Ezekiel 34:10 By destroying the covetous hirelings, and restoring true shepherds, whereof we have a sign so oft as God sendeth true preachers, who both by doctrine and life labor to feed his sheep in the pleasant pastures of his word.

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