Surely I will no more spare those that dwell in the land, saith the Lord: but lo, [a]I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor’s hand, and into the hand of his [b]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 [c]poor of the flock, and I took unto me [d]two staves: the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands, and I fed the sheep.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 11:6 I will cause one to destroy another.
  2. Zechariah 11:6 Their governors shall execute cruelty over them.
  3. Zechariah 11:7 That is, the small remnant, whom he thought worthy to show mercy unto.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Zechariah 11:8 Meaning, the people, because they would not acknowledge these great benefits of God.

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