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The Song of the Sword

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
    against the one who is my associate
    —oracle of the Lord of hosts.
Strike the shepherd
    that the sheep may be scattered;[a](A)
    I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In all the land—oracle of the Lord
    two thirds of them will be cut off and perish,
    and one third will be left.
I will bring the one third through the fire;
    I will refine them as one refines silver,(B)
    and I will test them as one tests gold.
They will call upon my name, and I will answer them;(C)
    I will say, “They are my people,”(D)
    and they will say, “The Lord is my God.”

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Footnotes

  1. 13:7 Strike the shepherd…may be scattered: in Matthew’s Gospel (26:31) Jesus makes use of this text before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and the flight of the disciples.

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

“Awake, sword,(A) against my shepherd,(B)
    against the man who is close to me!”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered,(C)
    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In the whole land,” declares the Lord,
    “two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
    yet one-third will be left in it.(D)
This third I will put into the fire;(E)
    I will refine them like silver(F)
    and test them like gold.(G)
They will call(H) on my name(I)
    and I will answer(J) them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’(K)
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.(L)’”

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