English Standard Version

Judges 9:5-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

5. And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.

6. And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

7. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

8. The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

9. But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’

10. And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’

11. But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’

12. And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’

13. But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’

14. Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’