Ἰεζεκιήλ 34

1 καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρός με λέγων

Yahweh gave me another message. He said,

2 υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου προφήτευσον ἐπὶ τοὺς ποιμένας τοῦ Ισραηλ προφήτευσον καὶ εἰπὸν τοῖς ποιμέσι τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος ὦ ποιμένες Ισραηλ μὴ βόσκουσιν ποιμένες ἑαυτούς οὐ τὰ πρόβατα βόσκουσιν οἱ ποιμένες

“You human, prophesy about [leaders] of Israel. [They should be taking care of my people like] [MET] shepherds [take care of their sheep]. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Terrible things will happen to you leaders [MET] of Israel who only take care of yourselves! You should certainly [RHQ] take care of [your people like] [MET] a shepherd takes care of his flock of sheep!

3 ἰδοὺ τὸ γάλα κατέσθετε καὶ τὰ ἔρια περιβάλλεσθε καὶ τὸ παχὺ σφάζετε καὶ τὰ πρόβατά μου οὐ βόσκετε

[It is as though] you eat the curds, you slaughter the very good animals and wear clothes made from their wool. But you do not take care of the flock.

4 τὸ ἠσθενηκὸς οὐκ ἐνισχύσατε καὶ τὸ κακῶς ἔχον οὐκ ἐσωματοποιήσατε καὶ τὸ συντετριμμένον οὐ κατεδήσατε καὶ τὸ πλανώμενον οὐκ ἐπεστρέψατε καὶ τὸ ἀπολωλὸς οὐκ ἐζητήσατε καὶ τὸ ἰσχυρὸν κατειργάσασθε μόχθῳ

You have not enabled those who are weak to become strong. You have not healed those who were sick. You have not bandaged those who were wounded/injured. You have not brought back those who went astray. You have not searched for those who became lost. You have ruled your people harshly and cruelly.

5 καὶ διεσπάρη τὰ πρόβατά μου διὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι ποιμένας καὶ ἐγενήθη εἰς κατάβρωμα πᾶσι τοῖς θηρίοις τοῦ ἀγροῦ

So they were scattered, because you did not [take care of them like] [MET] a shepherd [takes care of his sheep]. And when they were scattered, [it was as though] wild animals attacked and [killed them and ate] their flesh.

6 καὶ διεσπάρη μου τὰ πρόβατα ἐν παντὶ ὄρει καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶν βουνὸν ὑψηλὸν καὶ ἐπὶ προσώπου πάσης τῆς γῆς διεσπάρη καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἐκζητῶν οὐδὲ ὁ ἀποστρέφων

My people wandered like sheep all over the high hills and mountains. They were scattered all over the earth, and no one searched for them [DOU].

7 διὰ τοῦτο ποιμένες ἀκούσατε λόγον κυρίου

Therefore, you [who should be acting like] shepherds, listen to what I, Yahweh the Lord say:

8 ζῶ ἐγώ λέγει κύριος κύριος εἰ μὴν ἀντὶ τοῦ γενέσθαι τὰ πρόβατά μου εἰς προνομὴν καὶ γενέσθαι τὰ πρόβατά μου εἰς κατάβρωμα πᾶσι τοῖς θηρίοις τοῦ πεδίου παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι ποιμένας καὶ οὐκ ἐξεζήτησαν οἱ ποιμένες τὰ πρόβατά μου καὶ ἐβόσκησαν οἱ ποιμένες ἑαυτούς τὰ δὲ πρόβατά μου οὐκ ἐβόσκησαν

As surely as I am alive, my people [are like a flock of sheep that has] no shepherd, and as a result [it is as though] wild animals have attacked my people and eaten them. You did not search for them; instead, you only wanted to provide food for yourselves.

9 ἀντὶ τούτου ποιμένες

Therefore, you [who should be like] [MET] shepherds, listen to what I, Yahweh say:

10 τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐπὶ τοὺς ποιμένας καὶ ἐκζητήσω τὰ πρόβατά μου ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀποστρέψω αὐτοὺς τοῦ μὴ ποιμαίνειν τὰ πρόβατά μου καὶ οὐ βοσκήσουσιν ἔτι οἱ ποιμένες αὐτά καὶ ἐξελοῦμαι τὰ πρόβατά μου ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτῶν καὶ οὐκ ἔσονται αὐτοῖς ἔτι εἰς κατάβρωμα

I am opposed to [you leaders who should be like] [MET] shepherds for my people. I will remove you from taking care of my people, with the result that you will no longer feed yourselves [instead of feeding them]. I will rescue my people from you, with the result that you will longer be able to [butcher them and] eat them.

11 διότι τάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐκζητήσω τὰ πρόβατά μου καὶ ἐπισκέψομαι αὐτά

This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you leaders: I myself will search for my sheep and take care of them.

12 ὥσπερ ζητεῖ ὁ ποιμὴν τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὅταν ᾖ γνόφος καὶ νεφέλη ἐν μέσῳ προβάτων διακεχωρισμένων οὕτως ἐκζητήσω τὰ πρόβατά μου καὶ ἀπελάσω αὐτὰ ἀπὸ παντὸς τόπου οὗ διεσπάρησαν ἐκεῖ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ νεφέλης καὶ γνόφου

Like a shepherd finds his scattered sheep, I will rescue my people from all the places to which they have been scattered, at a time when things were very gloomy and they experienced disasters.

13 καὶ ἐξάξω αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ συνάξω αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν χωρῶν καὶ εἰσάξω αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν καὶ βοσκήσω αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη Ισραηλ καὶ ἐν ταῖς φάραγξιν καὶ ἐν πάσῃ κατοικίᾳ τῆς γῆς

I will bring them back from many countries and gather them together again in their own land. [Because my people are like sheep] [MET], [it is as though] I will enable them to find good pastureland on the hills of Israel, and in the ravines, and in the villages of Israel.

14 ἐν νομῇ ἀγαθῇ βοσκήσω αὐτούς καὶ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ ὑψηλῷ Ισραηλ ἔσονται αἱ μάνδραι αὐτῶν ἐκεῖ κοιμηθήσονται καὶ ἐκεῖ ἀναπαύσονται ἐν τρυφῇ ἀγαθῇ καὶ ἐν νομῇ πίονι βοσκηθήσονται ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων Ισραηλ

[It is as though] I will allow them to graze in good pastures on the mountaintops. They will lie down in good (grazing areas/grassy fields) there [DOU].

15 ἐγὼ βοσκήσω τὰ πρόβατά μου καὶ ἐγὼ ἀναπαύσω αὐτά καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος

I myself will take care of my people and enable them to lie down and rest.

16 τὸ ἀπολωλὸς ζητήσω καὶ τὸ πλανώμενον ἐπιστρέψω καὶ τὸ συντετριμμένον καταδήσω καὶ τὸ ἐκλεῖπον ἐνισχύσω καὶ τὸ ἰσχυρὸν φυλάξω καὶ βοσκήσω αὐτὰ μετὰ κρίματος

I will search for those who are lost and bring back the ones who have strayed away. I will bandage those who have been injured and strengthen those who are weak. But I will get rid of those who are fat and powerful. I will act fairly toward [the people who are like] [MET] my sheep. That is what I, Yahweh, promise.

17 καὶ ὑμεῖς πρόβατα τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ διακρινῶ ἀνὰ μέσον προβάτου καὶ προβάτου κριῶν καὶ τράγων

And as for you who are like [MET] my sheep, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I will judge between each of you; and I will separate [those that are peaceful like] sheep from [those that are always trying to dominate others like] goats.

18 καὶ οὐχ ἱκανὸν ὑμῖν ὅτι τὴν καλὴν νομὴν ἐνέμεσθε καὶ τὰ κατάλοιπα τῆς νομῆς ὑμῶν κατεπατεῖτε τοῖς ποσὶν ὑμῶν καὶ τὸ καθεστηκὸς ὕδωρ ἐπίνετε καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν τοῖς ποσὶν ὑμῶν ἐταράσσετε

It is bad that [RHQ] some of you keep the best pastures for yourselves. It is even worse that [RHQ] you trample the good grass with your feet. You yourselves drink the clear water [RHQ]. But with your feet you cause the other water to become muddy [RHQ].

19 καὶ τὰ πρόβατά μου τὰ πατήματα τῶν ποδῶν ὑμῶν ἐνέμοντο καὶ τὸ τεταραγμένον ὕδωρ ὑπὸ τῶν ποδῶν ὑμῶν ἔπινον

[It is as though] you [RHQ] are forcing my flock to eat the grass that you have trampled and to drink the water that you have caused to become muddy!

20 διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ διακρινῶ ἀνὰ μέσον προβάτου ἰσχυροῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον προβάτου ἀσθενοῦς

Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you: I myself will judge between [those of you who are like] [MET] the fat sheep and [those of you who are like] the thin sheep.

21 ἐπὶ ταῖς πλευραῖς καὶ τοῖς ὤμοις ὑμῶν διωθεῖσθε καὶ τοῖς κέρασιν ὑμῶν ἐκερατίζετε καὶ πᾶν τὸ ἐκλεῖπον ἐξεθλίβετε

[who are like] strong sheep, [it is as though] with your shoulders and buttocks you have shoved away [those who are like] thin sheep, and you have butted them with your horns, until you have chased them all away [from the good pastureland].

22 καὶ σώσω τὰ πρόβατά μου καὶ οὐ μὴ ὦσιν ἔτι εἰς προνομήν καὶ κρινῶ ἀνὰ μέσον κριοῦ πρὸς κριόν

But I will rescue my people, and they no longer will be (harassed/treated cruelly). I will judge between one person and another.

23 καὶ ἀναστήσω ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ποιμένα ἕνα καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς τὸν δοῦλόν μου Δαυιδ καὶ ἔσται αὐτῶν ποιμήν

And I will appoint one leader [MET] for them, [someone who will be like] King David, who served me [very well]. That leader will take care of them and be like their shepherd.

24 καὶ ἐγὼ κύριος ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς θεόν καὶ Δαυιδ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν ἄρχων ἐγὼ κύριος ἐλάλησα

I, Yahweh, will be their God, and [the one who is like] [MET] King David will be their king. [That will surely happen because] I, Yahweh, have said it.

25 καὶ διαθήσομαι τῷ Δαυιδ διαθήκην εἰρήνης καὶ ἀφανιῶ θηρία πονηρὰ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ ὑπνώσουσιν ἐν τοῖς δρυμοῖς

I will make a peace agreement with the people of Israel. In this agreement I will promise to get rid of all the wild animals in Israel, in order that my people may live safely, even in the desert and in the forests.

26 καὶ δώσω αὐτοὺς περικύκλῳ τοῦ ὄρους μου καὶ δώσω τὸν ὑετὸν ὑμῖν ὑετὸν εὐλογίας

I will bless them, and I will bless the places close to my sacred hill. I will bless them by sending them rain showers at the right season; they will be showers to bless them.

27 καὶ τὰ ξύλα τὰ ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ δώσει τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ γῆ δώσει τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτῆς καὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν ἐν ἐλπίδι εἰρήνης καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ἐν τῷ συντρῖψαί με τὸν ζυγὸν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξελοῦμαι αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν καταδουλωσαμένων αὐτούς

The fruit trees will produce fruit and the ground will produce crops. And my people will live safely in their land. When I rescue them from people who caused them to be slaves [MET, DOU], they will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].

28 καὶ οὐκ ἔσονται ἔτι ἐν προνομῇ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν καὶ τὰ θηρία τῆς γῆς οὐκέτι μὴ φάγωσιν αὐτούς καὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἐν ἐλπίδι καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ἐκφοβῶν αὐτούς

[Soldiers from] other nations will no longer take away their valuable possessions, and wild animals will no longer attack them. They will live safely, and no one will cause them to be afraid.

29 καὶ ἀναστήσω αὐτοῖς φυτὸν εἰρήνης καὶ οὐκέτι ἔσονται ἀπολλύμενοι λιμῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐνέγκωσιν ἔτι ὀνειδισμὸν ἐθνῶν

I will cause their land to be famous/well-known for its good crops. There will no longer be famines in the land, and people in other nations will no longer ridicule them.

30 καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτῶν καὶ αὐτοὶ λαός μου οἶκος Ισραηλ λέγει κύριος

Then they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am helping them, and they will know that they, the Israeli people, are my people.

31 πρόβατά μου καὶ πρόβατα ποιμνίου μού ἐστε καὶ ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν λέγει κύριος κύριος

[It will be as though] [MET] my people are my sheep whom I will take care of, and I will be their God. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.’”