¹ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

² Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

³ And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

⁴ He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

⁵ He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

⁶ And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

⁷ There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

⁸ It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

⁹ Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

¹⁰ Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.

¹¹ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

¹² Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

¹³ And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

¹⁴ That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

¹⁵ But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

¹⁶ As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

¹⁷ Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

¹⁸ Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

¹⁹ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

²⁰ And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

²¹ And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.

²² Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

²³ In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

²⁴ And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

---

¹ And the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 came unto me, saying, ^H559

² Son ^H1121 of man, ^H120 put forth ^H2330 a riddle, ^H2420 and speak ^H4911 a parable ^H4912 unto the house ^H1004 of Israel; ^H3478

³ And say, ^H559 Thus saith ^H559 the Lord ^H136 GOD; ^H3069 A great ^H1419 eagle ^H5404 with great ^H1419 wings, ^H3671 longwinged, ^{H83 H750} full ^H4392 of feathers, ^H5133 which had divers colours, ^H7553 came ^H935 unto Lebanon, ^H3844 and took ^H3947 the highest branch ^H6788 of the cedar: ^H730

⁴ He cropped off ^H6998 the top ^H7218 of his young twigs, ^H3242 and carried ^H935 it into a land ^H776 of traffick; ^H3667 he set ^H7760 it in a city ^H5892 of merchants. ^H7402

⁵ He took ^H3947 also of the seed ^H2233 of the land, ^H776 and planted ^H5414 it in a fruitful ^H2233 field; ^H7704 he placed ^H3947 it by great ^H7227 waters, ^H4325 and set ^H7760 it as a willow tree. ^H6851

⁶ And it grew, ^H6779 and became a spreading ^H5628 vine ^H1612 of low ^H8217 stature, ^H6967 whose branches ^H1808 turned ^H6437 toward him, and the roots ^H8328 thereof were under him: so it became a vine, ^H1612 and brought forth ^H6213 branches, ^H905 and shot ^H7971 forth sprigs. ^H6288

⁷ There was also another ^H259 great ^H1419 eagle ^H5404 with great ^H1419 wings ^H3671 and many ^H7227 feathers: ^H5133 and, behold, this vine ^H1612 did bend ^H3719 her roots ^H8328 toward him, and shot forth ^H7971 her branches ^H1808 toward him, that he might water ^H8248 it by the furrows ^H6170 of her plantation. ^H4302

⁸ It was planted ^H8362 in a good ^H2896 soil ^H7704 by great ^H7227 waters, ^H4325 that it might bring forth ^H6213 branches, ^H6057 and that it might bear ^H5375 fruit, ^H6529 that it might be a goodly ^H155 vine. ^H1612

⁹ Say ^H559 thou, Thus saith ^H559 the Lord ^H136 GOD; ^H3069 Shall it prosper? ^H6743 shall he not pull up ^H5423 the roots ^H8328 thereof, and cut off ^H7082 the fruit ^H6529 thereof, that it wither? ^H3001 it shall wither ^H3001 in all the leaves ^H2964 of her spring, ^H6780 even without great ^H1419 power ^H2220 or many ^H7227 people ^H5971 to pluck it up ^H5375 by the roots ^H8328 thereof.

¹⁰ Yea, behold, being planted, ^H8362 shall it prosper? ^H6743 shall it not utterly ^H3001 wither, ^H3001 when the east ^H6921 wind ^H7307 toucheth ^H5060 it? it shall wither ^H3001 in the furrows ^H6170 where it grew. ^H6780

¹¹ Moreover the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 came unto me, saying, ^H559

¹² Say ^H559 now to the rebellious ^H4805 house, ^H1004 Know ^H3045 ye not what these things mean? tell ^H559 them, Behold, the king ^H4428 of Babylon ^H894 is come ^H935 to Jerusalem, ^H3389 and hath taken ^H3947 the king ^H4428 thereof, and the princes ^H8269 thereof, and led ^H935 them with him to Babylon; ^H894

¹³ And hath taken ^H3947 of the king's ^H4410 seed, ^H2233 and made ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 with him, and hath taken ^H935 an oath ^H423 of him: he hath also taken ^H3947 the mighty ^H352 of the land: ^H776

¹⁴ That the kingdom ^H4467 might be base, ^H8217 that it might not lift itself up, ^H5375 but that by keeping ^H8104 of his covenant ^H1285 it might stand. ^H5975

¹⁵ But he rebelled ^H4775 against him in sending ^H7971 his ambassadors ^H4397 into Egypt, ^H4714 that they might give ^H5414 him horses ^H5483 and much ^H7227 people. ^H5971 Shall he prosper? ^H6743 shall he escape ^H4422 that doeth ^H6213 such things? or shall he break ^H6565 the covenant, ^H1285 and be delivered? ^H4422

¹⁶ As I live, ^H2416 saith ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD, ^H3069 surely in the place ^H4725 where the king ^H4428 dwelleth that made him king, ^H4427 whose oath ^H423 he despised, ^H959 and whose covenant ^H1285 he brake, ^H6565 even with him in the midst ^H8432 of Babylon ^H894 he shall die. ^H4191

¹⁷ Neither shall Pharaoh ^H6547 with his mighty ^H1419 army ^H2428 and great ^H7227 company ^H6951 make ^H6213 for him in the war, ^H4421 by casting up ^H8210 mounts, ^H5550 and building ^H1129 forts, ^H1785 to cut off ^H3772 many ^H7227 persons: ^H5315

¹⁸ Seeing he despised ^H959 the oath ^H423 by breaking ^H6565 the covenant, ^H1285 when, lo, he had given ^H5414 his hand, ^H3027 and hath done ^H6213 all these things, he shall not escape. ^H4422

¹⁹ Therefore thus saith ^H559 the Lord ^H136 GOD; ^H3069 As I live, ^H2416 surely mine oath ^H423 that he hath despised, ^H959 and my covenant ^H1285 that he hath broken, ^H6331 even it will I recompense ^H5414 upon his own head. ^H7218

²⁰ And I will spread ^H6566 my net ^H7568 upon him, and he shall be taken ^H8610 in my snare, ^H4686 and I will bring ^H935 him to Babylon, ^H894 and will plead ^H8199 with him there for his trespass ^H4603 that he hath trespassed ^H4604 against me.

²¹ And all his fugitives ^H4015 with all his bands ^H102 shall fall ^H5307 by the sword, ^H2719 and they that remain ^H7604 shall be scattered ^H6566 toward all winds: ^H7307 and ye shall know ^H3045 that I the LORD ^H3068 have spoken ^H1696 it.

²² Thus saith ^H559 the Lord ^H136 GOD; ^H3069 I will also take ^H3947 of the highest branch ^H6788 of the high ^H7311 cedar, ^H730 and will set ^H5414 it; I will crop off ^H6998 from the top ^H7218 of his young twigs ^H3127 a tender one, ^H7390 and will plant ^H8362 it upon an high ^H1364 mountain ^H2022 and eminent: ^H8524

²³ In the mountain ^H2022 of the height ^H4791 of Israel ^H3478 will I plant ^H8362 it: and it shall bring forth ^H5375 boughs, ^H6057 and bear ^H6213 fruit, ^H6529 and be a goodly ^H117 cedar: ^H730 and under it shall dwell ^H7931 all fowl ^H6833 of every wing; ^H3671 in the shadow ^H6738 of the branches ^H1808 thereof shall they dwell. ^H7931

²⁴ And all the trees ^H6086 of the field ^H7704 shall know ^H3045 that I the LORD ^H3068 have brought down ^H8213 the high ^H1364 tree, ^H6086 have exalted ^H1361 the low ^H8217 tree, ^H6086 have dried ^H3001 up the green ^H3892 tree, ^H6086 and have made the dry ^H3002 tree ^H6086 to flourish: ^H6524 I the LORD ^H3068 have spoken ^H1696 and have done ^H6213 it.

---

¹ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

² Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

³ and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

⁴ he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

⁵ He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow-tree.

⁶ And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

⁷ There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

⁸ It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

⁹ Say thou, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from the roots thereof.

¹⁰ Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.

¹¹ Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

¹² Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Babylon:

¹³ and he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;

¹⁴ that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

¹⁵ But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

¹⁶ As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

¹⁷ Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many persons.

¹⁸ For he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet hath done all these things; he shall not escape.

¹⁹ Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, I will even bring it upon his own head.

²⁰ And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

²¹ And all his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it.

²² Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain:

²³ in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shade of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

²⁴ And all the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, Jehovah, have spoken and have done it.

---

¹ And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

² `Son of man, put forth a riddle, and use a simile unto the house of Israel,

³ and thou hast said: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: The great eagle, great-winged, long-pinioned, Full of feathers, that hath diverse colours, Hath come in unto Lebanon, And it taketh the foliage of the cedar,

⁴ The top of its tender twigs it hath cropped, And it bringeth it in to the land of Canaan. In a city of merchants it hath placed it.

⁵ And it taketh of the seed of the land, And doth put it in a field of seed, To take by many waters, In a conspicuous place it hath set it.

⁶ And it springeth up, and becometh a spreading vine, humble of stature, To turn its thin shoots toward itself, And its roots are under it, And it becometh a vine, and maketh boughs, And sendeth forth beauteous branches.

⁷ And there is another great eagle, Great-winged, and abounding with feathers, And lo, this vine hath bent its roots toward him, And its thin shoots it hath sent out toward him, To water it from the furrows of its planting,

⁸ On a good field, by many waters, it is planted, To make branches, and to bear fruit, To be for an goodly vine.

⁹ Say: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: It prospereth -- its roots doth he not draw out, And its fruit cut off, and it is withered? `In' all the leaves of its springing it withereth, And not by great strength, and by a numerous people, To lift it up by its roots.

¹⁰ And lo, the planted thing -- doth it prosper? When come against it doth the east wind, Doth it not utterly wither? On the furrows of its springing it withereth.'

¹¹ And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:

¹² `Say, I pray thee, to the rebellious house, Have ye not known what these `are'? Say, Lo, come hath the king of Babylon to Jerusalem, And he taketh its king, and its princes, And bringeth them to himself to Babylon.

¹³ And he taketh of the seed of the kingdom, And maketh with him a covenant, And bringeth him in to an oath, And the mighty of the land he hath taken,

¹⁴ That the kingdom may be humble, That it may not lift itself up, To keep his covenant -- that it may stand.

¹⁵ And he rebelleth against him, To send his messengers to Egypt, To give to him horses, and much people, Doth he prosper? doth he escape who is doing these things? And hath he broken covenant and escaped?

¹⁶ I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Doth he not -- in the place of the king who is causing him to reign, Whose oath he hath despised, And whose covenant he hath broken, With him -- in the midst of Babylon -- die?

¹⁷ And not with a great force, and with a numerous assembly, Doth Pharaoh maintain him in battle, By pouring out a mount, and in building a fortification, To cut off many souls.

¹⁸ And he despised the oath -- to break covenant, And lo, he hath given his hand, And all these he hath done, he escapeth not.

¹⁹ Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: I live -- Mine oath that he hath despised, And My covenant that he hath broken, Have I not put it on his head?

²⁰ And I have spread out for him My snare, And he hath been caught in My net, And I have brought him in to Babylon, And pleaded with him there his trespass, That he hath trespassed against Me.

²¹ And all his fugitives, with all his bands, By sword do fall, and those remaining, To every wind they are spread out, And ye have known that I, Jehovah, have spoken.

²² Thus said the Lord Jehovah: I have taken of the foliage of the high cedar, And I have set `it', From the top of its tender shoots a tender one I crop, And I -- I have planted `it' on a mountain high and lofty.

²³ In a mountain -- the high place of Israel, I plant it, And it hath borne boughs, and yielded fruit, And become a goodly cedar, And dwelt under it have all birds of every wing, In the shade of its thin shoots they dwell.

²⁴ And known have all trees of the field That I, Jehovah, have made low the high tree, I have set on high the low tree, I have dried up the moist tree, And I have caused the dry tree to flourish, I, Jehovah, have spoken, and have done `it'!'

---

¹ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

² Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,

³ and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings, long-pinioned, full of feathers, which was of divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.

⁴ He cropped off the top of its young shoots, and carried it into a merchants' land; he set it in a city of traders.

⁵ And he took of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, he set it as a willow tree.

⁶ And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, so that its branches should turn toward him, and the roots thereof be under him; and it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

⁷ And there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and behold, from the beds of her plantation, this vine did bend her roots unto him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it.

⁸ It was planted in a good field by many waters, that it might bring forth branches and bear fruit, that it might be a noble vine.

⁹ Say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither? All its fresh sprouting leaves shall wither, even without a great arm and many people to pluck it up by its roots.

¹⁰ And behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither when the east wind toucheth it? It shall wither in the beds where it grew.

¹¹ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

¹² Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things are? Say, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took its king and its princes, and led them with him to Babylon.

¹³ And he took of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and brought him under an oath, and he took away the mighty of the land;

¹⁴ that the kingdom might be abased, that it might not lift itself up, that it might keep his covenant in order to stand.

¹⁵ But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

¹⁶ [As] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, verily in the place of the king that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him, in the midst of Babylon, shall he die.

¹⁷ Neither shall Pharaoh with a mighty army and a great assemblage do anything for him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts to cut off many persons.

¹⁸ He despised the oath, and broke the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, yet hath he done all these things: he shall not escape.

¹⁹ Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: [As] I live, verily, mine oath which he hath despised, and my covenant which he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his head.

²⁰ And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his unfaithfulness in which he hath been unfaithful against me.

²¹ And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind; and ye shall know that I Jehovah have spoken.

²² Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the highest branch of the lofty cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of its young shoots a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and eminent mountain:

²³ upon the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth branches, and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar; and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

²⁴ And all the trees of the field shall know that I Jehovah have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and made the dry tree to flourish: I Jehovah have spoken, and will do [it].

---

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

² Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

³ and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

⁴ he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs of it, and carried it to a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

⁵ He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow tree.

⁶ It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots of it were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

⁷ There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

⁸ It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

⁹ Say you, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots of it, and cut off the fruit of it, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from the roots of it.

¹⁰ Yes, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind touches it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.

¹¹ Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

¹² Say now to the rebellious house, Don't you know what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king of it, and the princes of it, and brought them to him to Babylon:

¹³ and he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;

¹⁴ that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

¹⁵ But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape who does such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

¹⁶ As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

¹⁷ Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many persons.

¹⁸ For he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things; he shall not escape.

¹⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it on his own head.

²⁰ I will spread my net on him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me.

²¹ All his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and you shall know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it.

²² Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain:

²³ in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shade of the branches of it shall they dwell.

²⁴ All the trees of the field shall know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, Yahweh, have spoken and have done it.

---

¹ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

² Son of man, give out a dark saying, and make a comparison for the children of Israel,

³ And say, This is what the Lord has said: A great eagle with great wings, full of long feathers of different colours, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

⁴ Biting off the highest of its young branches, he took it to the land of Canaan, and put it in a town of traders.

⁵ And he took some of the seed of the land, planting it in fertile earth, placing it by great waters; he put it in like a willow-tree.

⁶ And its growth went on and it became a vine, low and widely stretching, whose branches were turned to him and its roots were under him: so it became a vine, putting out branches and young leaves.

⁷ And there was another eagle with great wings and thick feathers: and now this vine, pushing out its roots to him, sent out its branches in his direction from the bed where it was planted, so that he might give it water.

⁸ He had it planted in a good field by great waters so that it might put out branches and have fruit and be a strong vine.

⁹ Say, This is what the Lord has said: Will it do well? will he not have its roots pulled up and its branches cut off, so that all its young leaves may become dry and it may be pulled up by its roots?

¹⁰ And if it is planted will it do well? will it not become quite dry at the touch of the east wind, drying up in the bed where it was planted?

¹¹ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

¹² Say now to this uncontrolled people, Are these things not clear to you? Say to them, See, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its rulers away with him to Babylon;

¹³ And he took one of the sons of the king and made an agreement with him; and he put him under an oath, and took away the great men of the land:

¹⁴ So that the kingdom might be made low with no power of lifting itself up, but might keep his agreement to be his servants.

¹⁵ But he went against his authority in sending representatives to Egypt to get from them horses and a great army. Will he do well? will he be safe who does such things? if the agreement is broken will he be safe?

¹⁶ By my life, says the Lord, truly in the place of the king who made him king, whose oath he put on one side and let his agreement with him be broken, even in Babylon he will come to his death.

¹⁷ And Pharaoh with his strong army and great forces will be no help to him in the war, when they put up earthworks and make strong walls for the cutting off of lives:

¹⁸ For he put his oath on one side in letting the agreement be broken; and though he had given his hand to it, he did all these things; he will not get away safe.

¹⁹ And so the Lord has said, By my life, truly, for my oath which he put on one side, and my agreement which has been broken, I will send punishment on his head.

²⁰ My net will be stretched out over him, and he will be taken in my cords, and I will send him to Babylon, and there I will be his judge for the wrong which he has done against me.

²¹ All his best fighting-men will be put to the sword, and the rest will be sent away to every wind: and you will be certain that I the Lord have said it.

²² This is what the Lord has said: Further, I will take the highest top of the cedar and put it in the earth; cutting off from the highest of his young branches a soft one, I will have it planted on a high and great mountain;

²³ It will be planted on the high mountain of Israel: it will put out branches and have fruit and be a fair cedar: under it all birds of every sort will make their living-place, resting in the shade of its branches.

²⁴ And it will be clear to all the trees of the field that I the Lord have made low the high tree and made high the low tree, drying up the green tree and making the dry tree full of growth; I the Lord have said it and have done it.