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Zechariah 11:3–8

3 There is the sound of wailing dshepherds!

For their glory is in ruins.

There is the sound of roaring lions!

For the 1pride of the Jordan is in ruins.

Prophecy of the Shepherds

Thus says the Lord my God, “Feed the flock for slaughter, whose owners slaughter them and efeel no guilt; those who sell them fsay, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich’; and their shepherds do gnot pity them. For I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord. “But indeed I will give everyone into his neighbor’s hand and into the hand of his king. They shall 2attack the land, and I will not deliver them from their hand.”

So I fed the flock for slaughter, 3in particular hthe poor of the flock. I took for myself two staffs: the one I called 4Beauty, and the other I called 5Bonds; and I fed the flock. I 6dismissed the three shepherds iin one month. My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

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Zechariah 11:3–8 — The New International Version (NIV)

Listen to the wail of the shepherds;

their rich pastures are destroyed!

Listen to the roar of the lions;

the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!

This is what the Lord my God says: “Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter. Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord, I am rich!’ Their own shepherds do not spare them. For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land,” declares the Lord. “I will give everyone into the hands of their neighbors and their king. They will devastate the land, and I will not rescue anyone from their hands.”

So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them

Zechariah 11:3–8 — English Standard Version (ESV)

The sound of the wail of the shepherds,

for their glory is ruined!

The sound of the roar of the lions,

for the thicket of the Jordan is ruined!

Thus said the Lord my God: “Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord, I have become rich,’ and their own shepherds have no pity on them. For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the Lord. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.”

So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled:

A voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.

Thus saith the Lord my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;

Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty:

And they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich:

And their own shepherds pity them not.

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord:

But, lo, I will deliver the men

Every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king:

And they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.

And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock.

And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Listen to the wailing of the shepherds,

for their rich pastures are destroyed.

Hear the young lions roaring,

for their thickets in the Jordan Valley are ruined.

This is what the Lord my God says: “Go and care for the flock that is intended for slaughter. The buyers slaughter their sheep without remorse. The sellers say, ‘Praise the Lord! Now I’m rich!’ Even the shepherds have no compassion for them. Likewise, I will no longer have pity on the people of the land,” says the Lord. “I will let them fall into each other’s hands and into the hands of their king. They will turn the land into a wilderness, and I will not rescue them.”

So I cared for the flock intended for slaughter—the flock that was oppressed. Then I took two shepherd’s staffs and named one Favor and the other Union. I got rid of their three evil shepherds in a single month.

But I became impatient with these sheep, and they hated me, too.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — New Century Version (NCV)

Listen to the shepherds crying

because their rich pastures are destroyed.

Listen to the lions roaring

because the lovely land of the Jordan River is ruined.

This is what the Lord my God says: “Feed the flock that are about to be killed. Their buyers kill them and are not punished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord, I am rich.’ Even the shepherds don’t feel sorry for their sheep. I don’t feel sorry anymore for the people of this country,” says the Lord. “I will let everyone be under the power of his neighbor and king. They will bring trouble to the country, and I will not save anyone from them.”

So I fed the flock about to be killed, particularly the weakest ones. Then I took two sticks; I called one Pleasant and the other Union, and I fed the flock. In one month I got rid of three shepherds. The flock did not pay attention to me, and I got impatient with them.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — American Standard Version (ASV)

A voice of the wailing of the shepherds! for their glory is destroyed: a voice of the roaring of young lions! for the pride of the Jordan is laid waste.

Thus said Jehovah my God: Feed the flock of slaughter; whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed be Jehovah, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not. For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor’s hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them. So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

A voice of howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.

Thus saith Jehovah my God: Feed the flock of slaughter, whose possessors slay them without being held guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed be Jehovah! for I am become rich; and their own shepherds pity them not. For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah, and behold, I will deliver men, every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and I will not deliver out of their hand. So I fed the flock of slaughter, truly the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. And I destroyed three shepherds in one month; and my soul was vexed with them, and their soul also loathed me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Listen! The shepherds are crying, 

because their rich pastures are destroyed. 

Listen! The young lions are roaring, 

because the lush banks of the Jordan are destroyed. 

This is what the Lord my God says: Take care of the sheep that are about to be slaughtered. Those who buy them will kill them and go unpunished. Those who sell them will say, “Praise the Lord! I’ve become rich!” Even their own shepherds will have no pity on them. 

The Lord declares, “I will no longer have pity on those who live in the land. I am going to hand the people over to their neighbors and their king, who will crush the land. And I won’t rescue any of them from their power.” 

So I became the shepherd of the sheep that were to be slaughtered and also of the oppressed sheep. I took two shepherd staffs and named one Favor and the other Unity. And I took care of the sheep. I got rid of three shepherds in one month. I became impatient with the sheep, and they also became disgusted with me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Listen to the wail of the shepherds,

for their glory is destroyed.

Listen to the roar of young lions,

for the thickets of the Jordan are destroyed.

Yahweh my God says this: “Shepherd the flock intended for slaughter. Those who buy them slaughter them but are not punished. Those who sell them say: Praise the Lord because I have become rich! Even their own shepherds have no compassion for them. Indeed, I will no longer have compassion on the inhabitants of the land”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Instead, I will turn everyone over to his neighbor and his king. They will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from them.”

So I shepherded the flock intended for slaughter, the afflicted of the flock. I took two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. In one month I got rid of three shepherds. I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Listen, the wail of the shepherds,

for their glory is despoiled!

Listen, the roar of the lions,

for the thickets of the Jordan are destroyed!

Thus said the Lord my God: Be a shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. Those who buy them kill them and go unpunished; and those who sell them say, “Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich”; and their own shepherds have no pity on them. For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord. I will cause them, every one, to fall each into the hand of a neighbor, and each into the hand of the king; and they shall devastate the earth, and I will deliver no one from their hand.

So, on behalf of the sheep merchants, I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. I took two staffs; one I named Favor, the other I named Unity, and I tended the sheep. In one month I disposed of the three shepherds, for I had become impatient with them, and they also detested me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Listen to the wailing of the shepherds,

for their splendor is ruined!

Listen to the roar of the young lions,

for the thickets of the Jordan are ruined!

Thus says Yahweh my God: “Shepherd the flock doomed to slaughter. The ones buying them kill them and go unpunished, and the ones selling them say, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, for I have become rich.’ Their own shepherds have no compassion for them. For I will no longer have compassion on the inhabitants of the land,” declares Yahweh. “Look, I am going to cause humankind to fall, each into the hand of his neighbor, and into the hand of his king; and they will devastate the land, and I will not deliver anyone from their hand.”

And I shepherded the flock doomed to slaughter, even the afflicted of the flock. I took two staffs, one I called Kindness, and the other I called Unity, and I shepherded the flock. And I got rid of three shepherds in one month, for I grew impatient with them, and they also became tired of me.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Listen to the shepherds cry out!

Their rich grasslands are destroyed.

Listen to the lions roar!

The trees and bushes along the Jordan River are gone.

The Lord my God says, “Take care of the sheep that are set apart to be sacrificed. Those who buy them kill them. And they are not punished for it. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord! We’re rich!’ And their own shepherds do not spare them.

“I will no longer have pity on the people in the land,” announces the Lord. “I will hand all of them over to their neighbors and their king. They will crush the people in the land. And I will not save them from their powerful hands.”

So I took care of the sheep set apart to be sacrificed. I took special care of those that had been crushed. Then I got two shepherd’s staffs. I called one of them Favor. I called the other one Union. And I took care of the flock. In one month I got rid of three worthless shepherds.

The sheep hated me. And I got tired of them.

Zechariah 11:3–8 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

There is a sound of the shepherds wail,

For their glory is ruined;

There is a sound of the young lions roar,

For the pride of the Jordan is ruined.

Thus says the Lord my God, “Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter.

“Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich!’ And their own shepherds have no pity on them.

“For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land,” declares the Lord; “but behold, I will cause the men to fall, each into another’s power and into the power of his king; and they will strike the land, and I will not deliver them from their power.”

So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter, hence the afflicted of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock.

Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me.


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