1 A nd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

The Word of the Lord came to me saying,

2 S on of man, put forth a riddle and speak a parable or allegory to the house of Israel;

“Son of man, give the people of Israel this picture-story to think about.

3 S ay, Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in feathers of various colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.

Tell them, ‘The Lord God says, “A large eagle with big wings and long feathers of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar tree.

4 H e broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it into a land of trade; he set it in a city of merchants.

He broke off the very top of its young branches and brought it to a land of traders. He placed it in a city of people who buy and sell.

5 H e took also of the seedlings of the land and planted it in fertile soil and a fruitful field; he placed it beside abundant waters and set it as a willow tree.

Then he took some of the seed of the land and planted it in good ground for growing. He planted it like a willow tree where there was much water to make it grow.

6 A nd it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots remained under and subject to him; so it became a vine and brought forth branches and shot forth leafy twigs.

And it grew and became a low spreading vine. Its branches grew toward him, but its roots stayed under it. So it became a vine, and branches and leaves grew out from it.

7 T here was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and shot forth its branches toward him, away from the beds of its planting, for him to water.

“But there was another large eagle with big wings and many feathers. And the vine turned its roots and branches toward him from where it was planted, that he might water it.

8 T hough it was planted in good soil where water was plentiful for it to produce leaves and to bear fruit, it was transplanted, that it might become a splendid vine.

It had been planted in good ground beside much water, that it might grow branches and give fruit and become a beautiful vine.”’

9 T hus says the Lord God: Ask, Will it thrive? Will he not pluck up its roots and strip off its fruit so that all its fresh sprouting leaves will wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pluck it up by its roots.

Tell them, ‘The Lord God says, “Will it live and grow? Will not its roots be pulled up and its fruit be cut off so that its leaves that started to grow dry up? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.

10 Y es, behold, though transplanted, will it prosper? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the furrows and beds where it sprouted and grew.

Even if it is planted again, will it live and grow? Will it not dry up when the east wind hits it? Will it not dry up in the place where it grew?”’”

11 M oreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Then the Word of the Lord came to me saying,

12 S ay now to the rebellious house, Do you not know and realize what these things mean? Tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its princes and brought them with him to Babylon.

“Now tell these sinful people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘See, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem. He took its king and the king’s sons, and brought them back with him to Babylon.

13 A nd he took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took the mighty and chief men of the land,

He took one of the king’s family and made an agreement with him. And he made him promise to keep it. He also took away the strong leaders of the land,

14 T hat the kingdom might become low and base and be unable to lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

so that the nation would be under his power and not become strong again. It could only last by keeping his agreement.

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

But the king of Judah turned against him by sending his men to Egypt to get horses and a large army for him. Will it go well for him? Can he get away with that? Can he break the agreement and not be punished?

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

As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘he will die in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose promise he hated, and whose agreement he broke. He will die in Babylon.

17 N either shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war when the cast up mounds and build forts to destroy many lives.

Pharaoh with his powerful army of many men will not help him in the war, when battle-walls are put up so that many people are killed.

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

He hated the promise and broke the agreement. Because he had given his promise and then did all these things, he will not get away from being punished.’”

19 T herefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely My oath that has despised and My covenant with him that he has broken, I will even bring down on his own head.

So the Lord God says, “As I live, I will punish him for hating My promise and for breaking My agreement.

20 A nd I will spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare; and I will bring him to Babylon and will enter into judgment and punishment with him there for his trespass and treason that he has committed against Me.

I will spread My net over him and he will be caught in My trap. Then I will bring him to Babylon and punish him there for not being faithful to Me.

21 A nd all his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind. And you shall know (understand and realize) that I the Lord have spoken it.

And all the best of his soldiers will be killed by the sword, and those left alive will be thrown to the wind. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.” God’s Promise of Hope

22 T hus says the Lord God: I Myself will take a twig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and will plant it upon a mountain high and exalted.

The Lord God says, “I will also take a young branch from the very top of the cedar tree and plant it. I will break a soft new one from the very top of its young branches, and plant it on a high mountain.

23 O n the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and be a noble cedar, and under it shall dwell all birds of every feather; in the shade of its branches they shall nestle and find rest.

I will plant it on the high mountain of Israel. It will grow branches and give fruit and become a beautiful cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it. They will nest in the shadow of its branches.

24 A nd all the trees of the field shall know (understand and realize) that I the Lord have brought low the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree flourish. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.

Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord. I bring down the high tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree become green. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I say.”