Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

one who rules his own house well, having [his] children in submission with all reverence

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the [same] condemnation as the devil.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you --

"The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ' These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

"But a hireling, [he who is] not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My [sheep,] and am known by My own.

A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.

To the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lillies." A Testimony of Asaph. A Psalm. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell [between] the cherubim, shine forth!

The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry [them] in His bosom, [And] gently lead those who are with young.

Then he remembered the days of old, Moses [and] his people, [saying:] "Where [is] He who brought them up out of the sea With the shepherd of His flock? Where [is] He who put His Holy Spirit within them,

"I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them -- My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.

And this [One] shall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, And when he treads in our palaces, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight princely men.

[There is] the sound of wailing shepherds! For their glory is in ruins. [There is] the sound of roaring lions! For the pride of the Jordan is in ruins.

"whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich'; and their shepherds do not pity them.

I dismissed the three shepherds in one month. My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

" Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.