⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks^(A) on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.^(A) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.^{(B) 4} When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.^{(C) 5} But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.^(A) Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd;^(B) I know my sheep^(C) and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father^(D)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.^{(E) 16} I have other sheep^(F) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock^(G) and one shepherd.^{(H) 17} The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life^(I)—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.^(J) I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”^(K)