What will happen to the shepherd and the sheep

7 The Commander of the armies of angels says,

“My sword [APO] must strike the one who is like [MET] my shepherd,

the man who is ◄my companion/very ◄close/dear► to me►.

When the shepherd is killed,

those who are like [MET] his sheep will scatter.

And those who are like [MET] my little sheep will also be attacked [IDM].”

8 Yahweh also says, “Two-thirds of the people in Judah will die [DOU].

Only one-third of the people in Judah will remain alive.

9 And I will test the ones that remain alive by causing them to experience great difficulties, to find out if they will continue to worship me.

I will purify them like [MET] a man purifies gold or silver by putting it into a very hot fire.

Then my people will call to me [MTY] for help,

and I will answer them.

I will say to them, ‘You are my people,’

and they will say, ‘Yahweh is our God.’ ”