<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;It then came about that just as I<n id="1" /> cried out, but they would not obey, so they will cry out, but I will not listen,&#8217; the <sc>Lordsc> <sc>Lord who rules over allsc> had said.

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;Therefore,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8216;I have become compassionate<n id="1" /> toward Jerusalem<n id="2" /> and will rebuild my temple<n id="3" /> in it,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all. &#8216;Once more a surveyor&#8217;s measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.&#8217;

And it will come about that just as you (both Judah and Israel) were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong!&#8217;p>

so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah &#8211; do not fear!

So it was annulled that very day, and then the most afflicted of the flock who kept faith with me knew that that was the word of the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

This is the kind of plague that will devastate horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the other animals in those camps.p>

But have my words and statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, not outlived your fathers?<n id="1" /> Then they paid attention<n id="2" /> and confessed, &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all has indeed done what he said he would do to us, because of our sinful ways.&#8217;&#8221;p>

For the household gods<n id="1" /> have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">So I<n id="1" /> began to shepherd the flock destined for slaughter, the most afflicted<n id="2" /> of all the flock. Then I took two staffs,<n id="3" /> calling one &#8220;Pleasantness&#8221;<n id="4" /> and the other &#8220;Binders,&#8221;<n id="5" /> and I tended the flock.