¹⁶ “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh,^(A) appoint a man over the community ¹⁷ who will go out before them and come back in before them,^(B) and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.”^(C)

⁵ They were scattered for lack of a shepherd;^(A) they became food for all the wild animals^(B) when they were scattered. ⁶ My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill.^(C) They were scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.

⁷ “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. ⁸ As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“because My flock has become prey and food for every wild animal since they lack a shepherd, for My shepherds do not search for My flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than My flock,

³⁶ When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out,^(A) like sheep without a shepherd.^(B)

³⁴ So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion^(A) on them, because they were like sheep^(B) without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things.