⁶ Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

⁶ My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting-place.

⁴⁶ Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, "It was necessary that God's word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, Jesus, sent him to you first, to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from your wickedness."

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don't forget your commandments.

²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer{"Overseer" is from the Greek episkopon, which can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent.} of your souls.

¹¹ I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

¹² Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?

¹³ For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;

¹⁴ if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

¹⁵ For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?

²⁵ When they didn't agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers,

²⁶ saying, 'Go to this people, and say, In hearing, you will hear, But will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, But will in no way perceive.

²⁷ For this people's heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their heart, And would turn again, And I would heal them.'

²⁸ "Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles. They will also listen."

⁸ As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely because my sheep became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the animals of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves, and didn't feed my sheep;

⁶ My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill: yes, my sheep were scattered on all the surface of the earth; and there was none who searched or sought.

²⁰ but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

⁶ When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!"

⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

³ He told them this parable.

⁴ "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?

⁵ When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶ When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'

⁷ I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

⁸ Or what woman, if she had ten drachma{A drachma coin was worth about 2 days wages for an agricultural laborer.} coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?

⁹ When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.'

¹⁰ Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."

¹⁰ See that you don't despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

²⁴ But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

²⁵ But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."

²⁶ But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

¹⁶ I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.

¹⁷ Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.