Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He makes me to rest in green pasture and leads me by the still waters.

³ He restores my soul and leads me in the paths of righteousness, for His Name’s sake.

⁴ Indeed, though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the sight of my adversaries. You anoint my head with oil; and my cup runs over.

⁶ Doubtless, kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I shall remain in the House of the LORD forever. A Psalm of David.

34 And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying:

² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

³ “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool. You kill those that are fat, but you do not feed the sheep.

⁴ “You have not strengthened the weak. You have neither healed the sick nor bound up the broken nor brought back that which was driven away. Nor have you sought that which was lost. But you have ruled them with cruelty and with violence.

⁵ “And they were scattered, without a shepherd. And when they were dispersed, they were devoured by all the beasts of the field.

⁶ “My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill. Yea, My flock was scattered throughout all the Earth and no one sought or searched.”

⁷ ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the Word of the LORD:

⁸ “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely because My flock was plundered and My sheep were devoured by all the beasts of the field, having no shepherd— nor did My shepherds seek My sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My sheep—

⁹ “therefore, hear the Word of the LORD, O you shepherds.”

¹⁰ ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I come against the shepherds and will require My sheep at their hands and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep. Nor shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore. For I will deliver your sheep from their mouths; and they shall no longer devour them.”

¹¹ ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I will search My sheep and seek them out.

¹² “As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered on the cloudy and dark day.

¹³ “And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

¹⁴ “I will feed them in a good pasture; and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be. There shall they lie in a good fold; and in fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

¹⁵ “I will feed My sheep and bring them to their rest,” says the Lord GOD.

¹⁶ “I will seek that which was lost and bring back that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen the weak. But I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will feed them with judgment.

15 Then all the tax collectors and sinners came to Him, to hear Him.

² Therefore, the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, “He receives sinners, and eats with them.”

³ Then He spoke this parable to them, saying,

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?

⁵ “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders with joy.

⁶ “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found my sheep which was lost!’

⁷ “I say to you that joy shall likewise be in Heaven for one sinner who converts, more than for ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.