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NOVEMBER 21
but he trusts in his own righteousness and com- most desolate because of all their abomina-
mits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall tions which they have committed.” ’
be remembered; but because of the iniquity 30 “As for you, son of man, the children of
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that he has committed, he shall die. Again, your people are talking about you beside the
when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely walls and in the doors of the houses; and they
die,’ if he turns from his sin and does what is speak to one another, everyone saying to his
lawful and right, if the wicked restores the brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word
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pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and is that comes from the LORD.’ So they come
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walks in the statutes of life without committing to you as people do, they sit before you as My
iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. people, and they hear your words, but they do
16 None of his sins which he has committed not do them; for with their mouth they show
shall be remembered against him; he has done much love, but their hearts pursue their own
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what is lawful and right; he shall surely live. gain. Indeed you are to them as a very love-
“Yet the children of your people say, ‘The
17 ly song of one who has a pleasant voice and
way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it is their way can play well on an instrument; for they hear
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which is not fair! When the righteous turns your words, but they do not do them. And
from his righteousness and commits iniquity, when this comes to pass—surely it will
he shall die because of it. But when the wicked come—then they will know that a prophet has
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turns from his wickedness and does what is been among them.”
lawful and right, he shall live because of it. And the word of the LORD came to me,
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20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ 34 saying, “Son of man, prophesy against
O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to
according to his own ways.” them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shep-
21 herds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of
our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth feed themselves! Should not the shepherds
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day of the month, that one who had escaped feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe your-
from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The selves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings,
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city has been captured!” but you do not feed the flock. The weak you
Now the hand of the LORD had been upon
22 have not strengthened, nor have you healed
me the evening before the man came who had those who were sick, nor bound up the bro-
escaped. And He had opened my mouth; so ken, nor brought back what was driven away,
when he came to me in the morning, my nor sought what was lost; but with force and
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mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute. cruelty you have ruled them. So they were
Then the word of the LORD came to me,
23 scattered because there was no shepherd; and
saying: “Son of man, they who inhabit those they became food for all the beasts of the field
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when they were scattered. My sheep wan-
ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abra- dered through all the mountains, and on every
ham was only one, and he inherited the land. high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the
But we are many; the land has been given to whole face of the earth, and no one was seek-
us as a possession.’
“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the 7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word
25 ing or searching for them.”
Lord GOD: “You eat meat with blood, you lift up of the LORD: “As I live,” says the Lord GOD,
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your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. “surely because My flock became a prey, and
Should you then possess the land? You rely My flock became food for every beast of the
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on your sword, you commit abominations, and field, because there was no shepherd, nor did
you defile one another’s wives. Should you My shepherds search for My flock, but the
then possess the land?” ’ shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My
27 “Say thus to them, ‘Thus says the Lord flock”— therefore, O shepherds, hear the
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GOD: “As I live, surely those who are in the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD:
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ruins shall fall by the sword, and the one who “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I
is in the open field I will give to the beasts to will require My flock at their hand; I will cause
be devoured, and those who are in the strong- them to cease feeding the sheep, and the
holds and caves shall die of the pestilence. shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for
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For I will make the land most desolate, her I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that
arrogant strength shall cease, and the moun- they may no longer be food for them.”
tains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one 11 ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I
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will pass through. Then they shall know that Myself will search for My sheep and seek
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I am the LORD, when I have made the land them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock
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