1. The Lord God said:
2. Ezekiel, son of man, Israel's leaders are like shepherds taking care of my sheep, the people of Israel. But I want you to condemn these leaders and tell them:I, the Lord God, say you shepherds of Israel are doomed! You take care of yourselves while ignoring my sheep.
3. You drink their milk and use their wool to make your clothes. Then you butcher the best ones for food. But you don't take care of the flock!
4. You have never protected the weak ones or healed the sick ones or bandaged those that get hurt. You let them wander off and never look for those that get lost. You are cruel and mean to my sheep.
5. They strayed in every direction, and because there was no shepherd to watch them, they were attacked and eaten by wild animals.
6. So my sheep were scattered across the earth. They roamed on hills and mountains, without anyone even bothering to look for them.