⁷ “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
    against the man who is my associate,”
            says the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered;
    I will turn my hand against the little ones.^(A)
8 In the whole land, says the Lord,
    two-thirds shall be cut off and perish,
    and one-third shall be left alive.^(B)
9 And I will put this third into the fire,
    refine them as one refines silver,
    and test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name,
    and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”^(C)