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

The Word of the Lord came to me saying,

2 “ Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel,

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

3 a nd say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, Full of feathers of various colors, Came to Lebanon And took from the cedar the highest branch.

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 cropped off its topmost young twig And carried it to 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 T hen he took some of the seed of the land And planted it in a fertile field; He placed it by abundant waters And set it like 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; Its branches turned toward him, But its roots were under it. So it became a vine, Brought forth branches, And put forth shoots.

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 “ But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers; And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, And stretched its branches toward him, From the garden terrace where it had been planted, That he might water it.

“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 I t was planted in good soil by many waters, To bring forth branches, bear fruit, And become a majestic 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 “ Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots, Cut off its fruit, And leave it to wither? All of its spring leaves will wither, And no great power or many people Will be needed 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 B ehold, it is planted, Will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the garden terrace where it 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 “ Say now to the rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean? ’ Tell them, ‘Indeed the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led 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 the king’s offspring, made a covenant with him, and put him under oath. He also took away the mighty 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 be brought low and not 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 by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and many people. Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?

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 ‘ As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke—with him in the midst of Babylon he 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 or will Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company do anything in the war, when they heap up a siege mound and build a wall to cut off many persons.

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 S ince he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact gave his hand and still did 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 which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense 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 I will spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and try him there for the treason which he 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 ll his fugitives with all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken.” Israel Exalted at Last

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 will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain.

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 I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell.

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 that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the Lord, have spoken and have done 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.”