7. So I took care of the sheep that had been raised to be killed—those poor sheep. I found two sticks. I called one stick Favor, and I called the other stick Union. Then I began caring for the sheep.
8. I fired the three shepherds all in one month. I got angry at the sheep, and they began to hate me.
9. Then I said, “I quit! I will not take care of you! I will let those who want to die, die. I will let those who want to be destroyed, be destroyed, and those who are left will destroy each other.”
10. Then I took the stick named Favor, and I broke it. I did this to show that God’s agreement with his people was broken.
11. So that day the agreement was finished, and those poor sheep watching me knew that this message was from the Lord.
12. Then I said, “If you want to pay me, pay me. If not, don’t!” So they paid me 30 pieces of silver.
13. Then the Lord told me, “So that’s how much they think I’m worth. Throw that large amount of money into the Temple treasury.” So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw them into the treasury at the Lord’S Temple.
14. Then I cut the stick named Union into two pieces. I did this to show that the union between Judah and Israel had been broken.
15. Then the Lord said to me, “Now, get the things a foolish shepherd might use.
16. This will show that I will get a new shepherd for this country. But this young man will not be able to take care of the sheep that are being destroyed. He will not be able to heal the hurt sheep or feed those that are left alive. And the healthy ones will be eaten completely—only their hoofs will be left.”