THE LORD AND HIS SHEEP

23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!”j This is the Lord’s declaration. 2 “Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock,k banished them, and have not attended to them.l I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 3 “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them,m and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous.n 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them.o They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.”p This is the Lord’s declaration.

THE RIGHTEOUS BRANCH OF DAVID

5 “Look, the days are coming”q—this is the Lord’s declaration—

“when I will raise up a Righteous Branch for David.r

He will reign wisely as king

and administer justice and righteousness in the land.s

6 In his days Judah will be saved,

and Israel will dwell securely.t

This is the name he will be called:

The Lord Is Our Righteousness.c,u