A reading from the book of Ezekiel.

The word of the Lord came to me.

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.

Prophesy and say to them, even to the shepherds.

Thus says the Lord God.

Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves, should not shepherds feed the sheep.

You eat the fat. You clothe yourselves feed the sheep. You eat the fat. You

clothe yourselves with the wool. You slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.

The weak you have not strengthened. The sick you have not healed. The injured you have not

bound up. The strayed you have not brought back. The lost you have not sought. And with force

and harshness, you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.

So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.

My sheep were scattered. They wandered over all the mountains, and on every high hill,

my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. Therefore, you shepherds,

hear the word of the Lord. As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey,

and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves,

and have not fed my sheep. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Thus, as the Lord God,

behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to

their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths,

that they may not be food for them. For thus says the Lord God, behold, I, I myself will search for my

sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep

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