Ezekiel 34:11-17

Contemporary English Version

The Lord Is the Good Shepherd

¹¹ The Lord God then said:

I will look for my sheep and take care of them myself, ¹² just as a shepherd looks for lost sheep. My sheep have been lost since that dark and miserable day when they were scattered throughout the nations.^[a] But I will rescue them ¹³ and bring them back from the foreign nations where they now live. I will be their shepherd and will let them graze on Israel's mountains and in the valleys and fertile fields. ¹⁴ They will be safe as they feed on grassy meadows and green hills. ¹⁵ I promise to take care of them and keep them safe, ¹⁶ to look for those that are lost and bring back the ones that wander off, to bandage those that are hurt and protect the ones that are weak. I will also slaughter^[b] those that are fat and strong, because I always do right.

Judgment on the Strong Sheep

¹⁷ The Lord God said to his sheep, the people of Israel:

I will carefully watch each one of you to decide which ones are the strong sheep and which ones are weak.