1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, the shepherds: This is what the Lord GOD says, 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?
3 You eat the fat, wear the wool, and slaughter the fattened animals, but you do not feed the flock.
4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them harshly and brutally.
5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild animals; they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My flock was scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
8 'As surely as I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'because My flock has become prey and My flock has become food for every wild animal since there was no shepherd and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock,
9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD.
10 This is what the Lord GOD says, 'Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My flock from their hand and stop them from shepherding My flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue My flock from their mouths, so it will no longer be food for them.'
11 For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and look after them.
12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered sheep when he is with them, so I will look after My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.