The cypress trees will cry because the cedar trees have fallen. Those powerful trees will be taken away. Oak trees in Bashan will cry for the forest that was cut down.
Listen to the crying shepherds. Their powerful leaders were taken away. Listen to the roaring of the young lions. Their thick bushes near the Jordan River have all been taken away.
Owners kill their sheep and are not punished. Those who sell the sheep and say, 'Praise the Lord, I am rich!' The shepherds don't feel sorry for their sheep.
And I don't feel sorry for the people who live in this country." This is what the Lord said: "Look, I will let everyone be under the control of their neighbor and king. I will let them destroy the country—I will not stop them!"
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.
Then I said, "I quit! I will not take care of you! I will let those that want to die, die. I will let those who want to be destroyed, be destroyed, and those who are left will destroy each other."
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.
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."
Too bad for you, you worthless shepherd! You abandoned my sheep. Punish him! Strike his arm and right eye with a sword. His arm will be useless. His right eye will be blind.