"Unfaithful people, come back; you belong to me. I will take one of you from each town and two from each clan, and I will bring you back to Mount Zion.

I will give you rulers who obey me, and they will rule you with wisdom and understanding.

And just as surely as I have done this, so I will maintain my covenant with Jacob's descendants and with my servant David. I will choose one of David's descendants to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will be merciful to my people and make them prosperous again."

He chose his servant David; he took him from the pastures,

David took care of them with unselfish devotion and led them with skill.

When that day comes, the Lord will once again use his power and bring back home those of his people who are left in Assyria and Egypt, in the lands of Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Babylonia, and Hamath, and in the coastlands and on the islands of the sea.

I will give them a king like my servant David to be their one shepherd, and he will take care of them.

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.

The trees will bear fruit, the fields will produce crops, and everyone will live in safety on his own land. When I break my people's chains and set them free from those who made them slaves, then they will know that I am the LORD.

I will give them fertile fields and put an end to hunger in the land. The other nations will not sneer at them any more.

"You, my sheep, the flock that I feed, are my people, and I am your God," says the Sovereign LORD.

I told her that for a long time she would have to wait for me without being a prostitute or committing adultery; and during this time I would wait for her.

But the time will come when the people of Israel will once again turn to the LORD their God and to a descendant of David their king. Then they will fear the LORD and will receive his good gifts.

The LORD says, "Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times."

When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the LORD and with the majesty of the LORD God himself. His people will live in safety because people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness,

and he will bring peace. When the Assyrians invade our country and break through our defenses, we will send our strongest leaders to fight them.

Be a shepherd to your people, LORD, the people you have chosen. Although they live apart in the wilderness, there is fertile land around them. Let them go and feed in the rich pastures of Bashan and Gilead, as they did long ago.

After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Lord," he answered, "you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Take care of my lambs."

A third time Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" and so he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Take care of my sheep.

So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he made his own through the blood of his Son.

I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.

I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Christ's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you

Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock.

and reported, "Sir, we have counted the soldiers under our command and not one of them is missing.

And it is the will of him who sent me that I should not lose any of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them all to life on the last day.

For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in him should have eternal life. And I will raise them to life on the last day."

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father's care.

While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost---so that the scripture might come true.

(He said this so that what he had said might come true: "Father, I have not lost even one of those you gave me.")

They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.