Jeremiah 23:1-8

YAHWEH declares, “Doomed are the shepherds who scatter the sheep of my pasture and cause them to be destroyed! Therefore, this is what I, YAHWEH, the God of Israel, say to the shepherds of my people: You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and failed to take care of them. So, I will be sure to take care of you and deal with you for your evil,” YAHWEH declares. “But I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries where I have scattered them and will bring them back to their folds where they will thrive and increase in number.” YAHWEH declares, “I will raise up faithful shepherds to shepherd them; ones who will really care for them. There will be no more fear or terror for them anymore, and not one will be missing. “Listen to me! I, the Lord, promise you that a time is coming when I will raise up a righteous Branch, who will sprout from David’s lineage. He will rule as their King, and his reign will prosper with wisdom and understanding. He will succeed in bringing justice and righteousness to all. Under his rule, Judah and Israel will be kept safe and secure. He will be known by this name: YAHWEH, Our Righteousness! “So I, YAHWEH, declare that a day is coming when people will no longer say, ‘As YAHWEH lives, who brought the Israelites out of Egypt,’ but rather, ‘As surely as YAHWEH lives, who brought the Israelites back from the land of the north and from all the lands to which he had banished them.’ Then they will dwell in their own land.”