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The Song of the Sword

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
    against the man who is my associate,
    says the Lord of hosts.
Strike the shepherd,
    so that the sheep may be scattered,
    and I will turn my hand against their young.[a]
Throughout the land, says the Lord,
    two-thirds in it will be cut off and perish,
    and one-third will be left.
I will put that one-third through fire,
    and I will refine them as silver is refined,
    and I will test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name
    and I will hear them.
I will say, “These are my people,”
    and they will say, “The Lord is our God.”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 13:7 Jesus cites this verse in foretelling his passion and the flight of the apostles (Mt 26:31).

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

“Awake, sword,(A) against my shepherd,(B)
    against the man who is close to me!”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered,(C)
    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In the whole land,” declares the Lord,
    “two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
    yet one-third will be left in it.(D)
This third I will put into the fire;(E)
    I will refine them like silver(F)
    and test them like gold.(G)
They will call(H) on my name(I)
    and I will answer(J) them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’(K)
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.(L)’”

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