The Broken Staffs
Zechariah 11
The prophet is told to tend a flock destined for slaughter, taking two staffs called Beauty and Line, but he cuts off three shepherds and, in grief, breaks Beauty to end his covenant with the peoples and is paid thirty pieces of silver, which he casts into the house of the Lord, before breaking Line to end the bond between Judah and Israel. The Lord then commands him to act the part of a foolish shepherd who abandons the flock, and pronounces woe on that worthless shepherd whose arm and eye shall be struck.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonOPEN thy gates, 0 Lebanon and let a fire devour thy cedars.
BrentonOpen thy doors, O Libanus, and let the fire devour thy cedars.
GreekΔιάνοιξον ὁ Λίβανος τὰς θύρας σου, καὶ καταφαγέτω πῦρ τὰς κέδρους σου.
KJVOpen thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.
JPSOpen thy doors, O Lebanon, That the fire may devour thy cedars.
2
ThomsonRaise the mournful cry, O pine tree, since the cedar is fallen, because the mighty are in great distress. Howl, ye oaks of Basan, because the thick-planted forest is rooted up.
BrentonLet the pine howl, because the cedar has fallen; for the mighty men have been greatly afflicted: howl, ye oaks of the land of Basan; for the thickly planted forest has been torn down.
GreekὈλολυξάτω πίτυς, διότι πέπτωκε κέδρος, ὅτι μεγάλως μεγιστᾶνες ἐταλαιπώρησαν· ὀλολύξατε δρύες τῆς Βασανίτιδος, ὅτι κατεσπάσθη ὁ δρυμὸς ὁ σύμφυτος.
KJVHowl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.
JPSWail, O cypress-tree, for the cedar is fallen; Because the glorious ones are spoiled; Wail, O ye oaks of Bashan, For the strong forest is come down.
3
ThomsonA sound of shepherds [is heard] singing the song of woe, because their greatness is brought to distress; a sound of lions roaring, because the swelling of the Jordan hath been distressed.
BrentonThere is a voice of the shepherds mourning; for their greatness is brought low: a voice of roaring lions; for the pride of Jordan is brought down.
GreekΦωνὴ θρηνούντων ποιμένων, ὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκεν ἡ μεγαλωσύνη αὐτῶν· φωνὴ ὠρυομένων λεόντων, ὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκε τὸ φρύαγμα τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.
KJVThere is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
JPSHark! the wailing of the shepherds, For their glory is spoiled; Hark! the roaring of young lions, For the thickets of the Jordan are spoiled.
4
ThomsonThus saith the Lord of Hosts: You are feeding the flock prepared for slaughter,
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty, Feed the sheep of the slaughter;
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ποιμαίνετε τὰ πρόβατα τῆς σφαγῆς,
KJVThus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
JPSThus said the LORD my God: ‘Feed the flock of slaughter;
5
Thomsonwhich their possessors were slaughtering, and spared not; and they who sold them said, Blessed be the Lord for we are enriched. And their shepherds had no feeling for them.
Brentonwhich their possessors have slain, and have not repented: and they that sold them said, Blessed be the Lord; for we have become rich: and their shepherds have suffered no sorrow for them.
Greekἃ οἱ κτησάμενοι κατέσφαζον, καὶ οὐ μετεμέλοντο, καὶ οἱ πωλοῦντες αὐτὰ ἔλεγον, εὐλογητὸς Κύριος, καὶ πεπλουτήκαμεν· καὶ οἱ ποιμένες αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔπασχον οὐδὲν ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς.
KJVWhose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
JPSwhose buyers slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say: Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not.
6
ThomsonTherefore I will no more spare the inhabitants of this land, saith the Lord. Now behold I deliver up the men, each one into the hand of his neighbour, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and I will not deliver out of their hand.
BrentonTherefore I will no longer have mercy upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord: but, behold, I will deliver up the men every one into the hand of his neighbour, and into the hand of his king; and they shall destroy the land, and I will not rescue out of their hand.
GreekΔιατοῦτο οὐ φείσομαι οὐκέτι ἐπὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν, λέγει Κύριος· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ παραδίδωμι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἕκαστον εἰς χεῖρα τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰς χεῖρα βασιλέως αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατακόψουσι τὴν γῆν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξέλωμαι ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῶν.
KJVFor I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.
JPSFor I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.’
7
ThomsonAgain I will feed the flock of the slaughter in the land of Chanaan; and I will take my two staves, one I had called Beauty, and the other I called Porfion*; and I will feed the flock,
BrentonAnd I will tend the flock of slaughter in the land of Chanaan: and I will take for myself two rods; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Line; and I will tend the flock.
GreekΚαὶ ποιμανῶ τὰ πρόβατα τῆς σφαγῆς εἰς τὴν Χαναανίτιν· καὶ λήψομαι ἐμαυτῷ δύο ῥάβδους, τὴν μὲν μίαν ἐκάλεσα Κάλλος, καὶ τὴν ἑτέραν ἐκάλεσα Σχοίνισμα, καὶ ποιμανῶ τὰ πρόβατα.
KJVAnd I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
JPSSo I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Graciousness, and the other I called Binders; and I fed the flock.
8
Thomsonand remove three shepherds in one month; and my soul will be weighed down against them. For as their souls roared against me,
BrentonAnd I will cut off three shepherds in one month; and my soul shall grieve over them, for their souls cried out against me.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξαρῶ τοὺς τρεῖς ποιμένας ἐν μηνὶ ἑνὶ, καὶ βαρυνθήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ γὰρ αἱ ψυχαὶ αὐτῶν ἐπωρύοντο ἐπʼ ἐμέ.
KJVThree shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
JPSAnd I cut off the three shepherds in one month; ‘for My soul became impatient of them, and their soul also loathed Me.’
9
Thomsontherefore I said, I will not feed you; what is dying, let it die; and what is fainting let it faint. And a s for the rest, let them devour everyone the flesh of his neighbour.
BrentonAnd I said, I will not tend you: that which dies, let it die; and that which falls off, let it fall off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of his neighbour.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, οὐ ποιμανῶ ὑμᾶς· τὸ ἀποθνῆσκον ἀποθνησκέτω, καὶ τὸ ἐκλεῖπον ἐκλιπέτω, καὶ τὰ κατάλοιπα κατεσθιέτωσαν ἕκαστος τὰς σάρκας τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.
KJVThen said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.
JPSThen said I: ‘I will not feed you; that which dieth, let it die; and that which is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let them that are left eat every one the flesh of another.’
10
ThomsonAnd I will take my staff Beauty, and throw it away, that I may break my covenant which I made with all these tribes.
BrentonAnd I will take my beautiful staff, and cast it away, that I may break my covenant which I made with all the people.
GreekΚαὶ λήψομαι τὴν ῥάβδον μου τὴν καλὴν, καὶ ἀποῤῥίψω αὐτὴν, τοῦ διασκεδάσαι τὴν διαθήκην μου, ἣν διεθέμην πρὸς πάντας τοὺς λαοὺς,
KJVAnd I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.
JPSAnd I took my staff Graciousness, and cut it asunder, ‘that I might break My covenant which I had made with all the peoples.’
11
ThomsonAnd on that day it shall be broken; and the Chananites, the sheep that are kept for me, shall know for what cause there is a word of the Lord.
BrentonAnd it shall be broken in that day; and the Chananites, the sheep that are kept for me, shall know that it is the word of the Lord.
Greekκαὶ διασκεδασθήσεται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ γνώσονται οἱ Χαναναῖοι τὰ πρόβατα τὰ φυλασσόμενά μοι, διότι λόγος Κυρίου ἐστί.
KJVAnd it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
JPSAnd it was broken in that day; and the poor of the flock that gave heed unto me knew of a truth that it was the word of the LORD.
12
ThomsonThen I will say to them, If it seemeth good in your sight, give me my wages; if not, forbear. And when they had weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver,
BrentonAnd I will say to them, If it be good in your eyes, give me my price, or refuse it. And they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
GreekΚαὶ ἐρῶ πρὸς αὐτοὺς, εἰ καλὸν ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν ἐστι, δότε τὸν μισθόν μου, ἢ ἀπείπασθε· καὶ ἔστησαν τὸν μισθόν μου τριακοντα ἀργυροῦς.
KJVAnd I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
JPSAnd I said unto them: ‘If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear.’ So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.
13
Thomsonthen the Lord said to me, Put them in the smelting furnace, and let Me see whether it be proof: as I have been proved for them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them down in the house of the Lord, for the smelting furnace.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Drop them into the furnace, and I will see if it is good metal, as I was proved for their sakes. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the furnace in the house of the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, κάθες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ χωνευτήριον, καὶ σκέψομαι εἰ δόκιμόν ἐστιν, ὃν τρόπον ἐδοκιμάσθην ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔλαβον τοὺς τριάκοντα ἀργυροῦς, καὶ ἐνέβαλον αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου εἰς τὸ χωνευτήριον.
KJVAnd the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto me: ‘Cast it into the treasury, the goodly price that I was prized at of them.’ And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the treasury, in the house of the LORD.
14
ThomsonThen I threw away the other staff Portion, that I may break the joint tenancy between Juda and Israel.
BrentonAnd I cast away my second rod, even Line, that I might break the possession between Juda and Israel.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέῤῥιψα τὴν ῥάβδον τὴν δευτέραν τὸ Σχοίνισμα, τοῦ διασκεδάσαι τὴν κατάσχεσιν ἀναμέσον Ἰούδα, καὶ ἀναμέσον Ἰσραήλ.
KJVThen I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
JPSThen I cut asunder mine other staff, even Binders, that the brotherhood between Judah and Israel might be broken.
15
ThomsonThen the Lord said to me, Take thee yet the pastoral utensils of an unskilful shepherd;
BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Take yet to thee shepherd's implements belonging to an unskilful shepherd.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἔτι λάβε σεαυτῷ σκεύη ποιμενικὰ ποιμένος ἀπείρου·
KJVAnd the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto me: ‘Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
16
Thomsonfor behold I am about to raise up a shepherd against this land, who will not visit what is fainting, nor seek what is scattered; nor heal what is bruised; nor lead aright what is sound; but will devour the flesh of the choice shepherds, and tear their joints asunder.
BrentonFor, behold, I will raise up a shepherd against the land: he shall not visit that which is perishing, and he shall not seek that which is scattered, and he shall not heal that which is bruised, nor guide that which is whole: but he shall devour the flesh of the choice ones, and shall dislocate the joints of their necks.
Greekδιότι ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξεγείρω ποιμένα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, τὸ ἐκλιμπάνον οὐ μὴ ἐπισκέψηται, καὶ τὸ ἐσκορπισμένον οὐ μὴ ζητήσῃ, καὶ τὸ συντετριμμένον οὐ μὴ ἰάσηται, καὶ τὸ ὁλόκληρον οὐ μὴ κατευθύνῃ, καὶ τὰ κρέα τῶν ἑκλεκτῶν καταφάγεται, καὶ τοὺς ἀστραγάλους αὐτῶν ἐκστρέψει.
KJVFor, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
JPSFor, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not think of those that are cut off, neither will seek those that are young, nor heal that which is broken; neither will he feed that which standeth still, but he will eat the flesh of the fat, and will break their hoofs in pieces.’
17
ThomsonO ye wanton who have forsaken the sheep. There is a sword against his arms, and against his right eye. His arm shall be quite withered, and his right eye utterly blinded.
BrentonAlas for the vain shepherds that have forsaken the sheep! the sword shall be upon the arms of such a one, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be completely withered, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
GreekὪ οἱ ποιμαίνοντες τὰ μάταια, καταλελοιπότες τὰ πρόβατα, μάχαιρα ἐπὶ τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν τὸν δεξιὸν αὐτοῦ, ὁ βραχίων αὐτοῦ ξηραινόμενος ξηρανθήσεται, καὶ ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς ὁ δεξιὸς αὐτοῦ ἐκτυφλούμενος ἐκτυφλωθήσεται.
KJVWoe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
JPSWoe to the worthless shepherd That leaveth the flock! The sword shall be upon his arm, And upon his right eye; His arm shall be clean dried up, And his right eye shall be utterly darkened.