Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds, (A)Woe be unto the [a]shepherds of Israel, that feed themselves: should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Ye eat the [b]fat, and ye clothe you with the wool: ye kill them that are fed, but ye feed not the sheep.

The [c]weak have ye not strengthened: the sick have ye not healed, neither have ye bound up the broken, nor brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost, but with cruelty, and with rigor have ye ruled them.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:2 By the shepherds he meaneth the king, the Magistrates, Priests, and Prophets.
  2. Ezekiel 34:3 Ye seek to enrich yourselves by their commodities, and to spoil their riches and substance.
  3. Ezekiel 34:4 He describeth the office and duty of a good pastor, who ought to love and succor his flock, and not to be cruel toward them.

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?(A) You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.(B) You have not strengthened the weak or healed(C) the sick or bound up(D) the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.(E)

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