12. in the same way as shepherds take care of their sheep that were scattered and are brought together again. I will bring them back from all the places where they were scattered on that dark, disastrous day.
13. I will take them out of foreign countries, gather them together, and bring them back to their own land. I will lead them back to the mountains and the streams of Israel and will feed them in pleasant pastures.
14. I will let them graze in safety in the mountain meadows and the valleys and in all the green pastures of the land of Israel.
15. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will find them a place to rest. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.
16. “I will look for those that are lost, bring back those that wander off, bandage those that are hurt, and heal those that are sick; but those that are fat and strong I will destroy, because I am a shepherd who does what is right.
17. “Now then, my flock, I, the Sovereign Lord, tell you that I will judge each of you and separate the good from the bad, the sheep from the goats.
18. Some of you are not satisfied with eating the best grass; you even trample down what you don't eat! You drink the clear water and muddy what you don't drink!
19. My other sheep have to eat the grass you trample down and drink the water you muddy.
20. “So now, I, the Sovereign Lord, tell you that I will judge between you strong sheep and the weak sheep.
21. You pushed the sick ones aside and butted them away from the flock.
22. But I will rescue my sheep and not let them be ill-treated any more. I will judge each of my sheep and separate the good from the bad.
23. I will give them a king like my servant David to be their one shepherd, and he will take care of them.
24. I, the Lord, will be their God, and a king like my servant David will be their ruler. I have spoken.
25. I will make a covenant with them that guarantees their security. I will get rid of all the dangerous animals in the land, so that my sheep can live safely in the fields and sleep in the forests.