But he shall say, I am no [a]Prophet: I am an husbandman: for man taught me to be an herdsman from my youth up.

And one shall say unto him, What are these [b]wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends.

¶ Arise, O sword, upon my [c]shepherd, and upon the man, that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 13:5 They shall confess their former ignorance, and be content to labor for their living.
  2. Zechariah 13:6 Hereby he showeth that though their parents and friends dealt more gently with them, and put them not to death, yet they would so punish their children, that became false prophets, that the marks and signs should remain forever.
  3. Zechariah 13:7 The Prophet warneth the Jews, that before this great comfort should come under Christ, there should be an horrible dissipation among the people: for their governors and pastors should be destroyed, and the people should be as scattered sheep: and the Evangelist applieth this to Christ, because he was the head of all Pastors, Matt. 26:31.

Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.[a](A) If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body[b]?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

“Awake, sword,(B) against my shepherd,(C)
    against the man who is close to me!”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered,(D)
    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 13:5 Or farmer; a man sold me in my youth
  2. Zechariah 13:6 Or wounds between your hands