Zechariah 13:7-9

Kill the shepherd and the sheep will run away

7 ‘Attack my shepherd with a sharp knife.

Attack the man that is next to me,’

says the Lord Almighty.

‘Kill the shepherd and then the sheep will run away.

Then I will attack the young sheep.

8 In the whole country,’ says the Lord,

‘two thirds of the people will die.

But one third will still be living there.

9 I will bring these people through fire.

As men clean silver in the fire, so I will clean them.

As men test gold in the fire, so I will test them.

They will speak my name and I will answer them.

I will say, “They are my people.”

They will say, “The Lord is our God.” ’