11 The destruction of the Temple. 4 The care of the faithful is committed to Christ. 7 A grievous vision against Jerusalem and Judah.

Open thy doors, O [a]Lebanon, and the fire shall devour thy cedars.

Howl, [b]fir trees: for the cedar is fallen, because all the mighty are destroyed: howl ye, O oaks of Bashan, for the [c]defenced forest is cut down.

There is the voice of the howling of the shepherds: for their [d]glory is destroyed: the voice of the roaring of lion’s whelps: for the pride of Jordan is destroyed.

Thus saith the Lord my God, Feed the sheep of the [e]slaughter.

They that possess them, slay them [f]and sin not: and they that sell them, say, [g]Blessed be the Lord: for I am rich, and their own shepherds spare them not.

Surely I will no more spare those that dwell in the land, saith the Lord: but lo, [h]I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor’s hand, and into the hand of his [i]king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hands I will not deliver them.

For I fed the sheep of slaughter, even the [j]poor of the flock, and I took unto me [k]two staves: the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands, and I fed the sheep.

[l]Three shepherds also I cut off in one month, and my soul loathed [m]them, and their soul abhorred me.

Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die: and that that perisheth, let it perish: and let the remnant eat, everyone the flesh of his neighbor.

10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and brake it, that I might disannul my covenant, which I had made with all people.

11 And it was broken in that day: and so the [n]poor of the sheep that waited upon me, knew that it was the word of the Lord.

12 And I said unto them, If ye think it good, give me [o]my wages: and if no, leave off: so they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the [p]potter: a goodly price, that I was valued at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.

14 Then brake I mine other staff: even the Bands, that I might dissolve the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15 And the Lord said unto me, Take to thee yet [q]the instruments of a foolish shepherd.

16 For lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not look for the thing that is lost, nor seek the tender lambs, nor heal that that is hurt, nor feed that that [r]standeth up, but he shall eat flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

17 O idol shepherd that leaveth the flock: the sword shall be upon his [s]arm, and upon his right eye. His arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 11:1 Because the Jews thought themselves so strong by reason of this mountain, that no enemy could come to hurt them, the Prophet showeth that when God sendeth the enemies, it shall show itself ready to receive them.
  2. Zechariah 11:2 Showing, that if the strong men were destroyed, the weaker were not able to resist.
  3. Zechariah 11:2 Seeing that Lebanon was destroyed, which was the strongest munition, the weaker places could not think to hold out.
  4. Zechariah 11:3 That is, the renown of Judah and Israel should perish.
  5. Zechariah 11:4 Which being now destinate to be slain, were delivered as out of the lion’s mouth.
  6. Zechariah 11:5 Their governors destroy them without any remorse of conscience, or yet thinking that they do evil.
  7. Zechariah 11:5 He noteth the hypocrites, which ever have the Name of God in their mouths, though in their life and doings they deny God, attributing their gain to God’s blessings, which cometh of the spoil of their brethren.
  8. Zechariah 11:6 I will cause one to destroy another.
  9. Zechariah 11:6 Their governors shall execute cruelty over them.
  10. Zechariah 11:7 That is, the small remnant, whom he thought worthy to show mercy unto.
  11. Zechariah 11:7 God showeth his great benefits toward his people to convince them of greater ingratitude, which would neither be ruled by his most beautiful order of government, neither continue in the bands of brotherly unity, and therefore he breaketh both the one and the other. Some read, for Bands, Destroyers, but in verse 14 the first reading is confirmed.
  12. Zechariah 11:8 Whereby he showeth his care and diligence that he would suffer them to have no evil rulers, because they should consider his great love.
  13. Zechariah 11:8 Meaning, the people, because they would not acknowledge these great benefits of God.
  14. Zechariah 11:11 He showeth that the least part ever profit by God’s judgments.
  15. Zechariah 11:12 Besides their ingratitude God accuseth them of malice and wickedness, which did not only forget his benefits, but esteemed them as things of naught.
  16. Zechariah 11:13 Showing that it was too little to pay his wages, which could scarce suffice to make a few tiles to cover the Temple.
  17. Zechariah 11:15 Signifying that they should have a certain kind of regiment and outward show of government: but in effect it should be nothing: for they should be wolves, and devouring beasts instead of shepherds.
  18. Zechariah 11:16 And is in health and sound.
  19. Zechariah 11:17 By the arms he signifieth strength, as he doth wisdom and judgments by the eye: that is, the plague of God shall take away both thy strength and judgment.

11 Open your doors, Lebanon,(A)
    so that fire(B) may devour your cedars!
Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen;
    the stately trees are ruined!
Wail, oaks(C) of Bashan;
    the dense forest(D) has been cut down!(E)
Listen to the wail of the shepherds;
    their rich pastures are destroyed!
Listen to the roar of the lions;(F)
    the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!(G)

Two Shepherds

This is what the Lord my God says: “Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter.(H) Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord, I am rich!’ Their own shepherds do not spare them.(I) For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land,” declares the Lord. “I will give everyone into the hands of their neighbors(J) and their king. They will devastate the land, and I will not rescue anyone from their hands.”(K)

So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter,(L) particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested(M) me, and I grew weary of them and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish.(N) Let those who are left eat(O) one another’s flesh.”

10 Then I took my staff called Favor(P) and broke it, revoking(Q) the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11 It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord.

12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.(R)

13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver(S) and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.(T)

14 Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel.

15 Then the Lord said to me, “Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16 For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves.

17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd,(U)
    who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm(V) and his right eye!
    May his arm be completely withered,
    his right eye totally blinded!”(W)