And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:2 Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the hocks be fed by the shepherds?3 You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed.4 The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand.5 And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.6 My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: and my flocks mere scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them.7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:8 As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks:9 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:10 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my hock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them.11 For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.
Quite clearly he states that they have caused the sheep to be lost and to be devoured by the beasts of the field; nor, if they are abandoned, could they avoid being lost in death and devoured. But he does not say that they should be restored after they have been lost in death and devoured.
A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
And, moreover, the ark made of imperishable wood was the Saviour Himself. For by this was signified the imperishable and incorruptible tabernacle of (the Lord) Himself, which gendered no corruption of sin. For the sinner, indeed, makes this confession: "My wounds stank, and were corrupt, because of my foolishness." But the Lord was without sin, made of imperishable wood, as regards His humanity; that is, of the virgin and the Holy Ghost inwardly, and outwardly of the word of God, like an ark overlaid with purest gold.
The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.2 And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 And going about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle.4 And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.5 And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner.6 But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?7 They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard.8 And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.†9 When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.10 But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny.11 And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,12 Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.13 But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny?†14 Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.15 Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good?†16 So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.
Or, He did not call upon the labourers of the third hour for a complete task, but left to their own choice, how much they should work. For they might perform in the vineyard work equal to that of those who had wrought since the morning, if they chose to put forth upon their task an operative energy, such as had not yet been exerted.
Or; The Lord said to his steward, that is, to one of the Angels who was set over the payment of the labourers; or to one of those many guardians, according to what is written, that The heir as long as he is a child is under tutors and governors. (Gal. 4:2.)
Perhaps it is to Adam He says, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst thou not agree with me for a denarius? Take that thine is, and go thy way. Salvation is thine, that is, the denarius. I will give unto this last also as unto thee. A person might not improbably suppose, that this last was the Apostle Paul, who wrought but one hour, and was made equal with all who had been before him.
But this, Why stand ye here all the day idle? is not said to such as having begun in the spirit (Gal. 3:3) have been made perfect by the flesh, as inviting them to return again, and to live in the Spirit. This we speak not to dissuade prodigal sons, who have consumed their substance of evangelic doctrine in riotous living, from returning to their father’s house; but because they are not like those who sinned in their youth, before they had learnt the things of the faith.
But the first labourers having the witness through faith have not received the promise of God, the lord of the household providing some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Heb. 11:40.) And because we have obtained mercy, we hope to receive the reward first, we, that is, who are Christ’s, and after us they that wrought before us; wherefore it is said, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)