² Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds^(A) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock^(B) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil^(C) you have done,” declares the Lord. ³ “I myself will gather the remnant^(D) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,^(E) where they will be fruitful and increase in number. ⁴ I will place shepherds^(F) over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid^(G) or terrified, nor will any be missing,^(H)” declares the Lord.

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(A) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(B)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(C) They offered him wine vinegar^{(D) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(E) save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.^(F)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”^(G)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(H)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[a]”^(I)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(J)

¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness^(A) and brought us into the kingdom^(B) of the Son he loves,^{(C) 14} in whom we have redemption,^(D) the forgiveness of sins.^(E)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(F) of the invisible God,^(G) the firstborn^(H) over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(I) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(J) all things have been created through him and for him.^{(K) 17} He is before all things,^(L) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(M) of the body, the church;^(N) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(O) from among the dead,^(P) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased^(Q) to have all his fullness^(R) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(S) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(T) by making peace^(U) through his blood,^(V) shed on the cross.