¹² “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate^(A) and without people or animals^(B)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.^(C)

¹² As a shepherd^(A) 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.^{(B) 13} I will bring them out from the nations and gather^(C) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.^(D) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.^{(E) 14} I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel^(F) will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture^(G) on the mountains of Israel.^{(H) 15} I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,^(I) declares the Sovereign Lord.^(J)

⁶² Then say, ‘Lord, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither people nor animals will live in it; it will be desolate^(A) forever.’