1. The word of the Lord came to me:
2. “Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.
3. You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:A great eagle with great wings, long pinions,and full plumage of many colorscame to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
4. He plucked off its topmost shoot,brought it to the land of merchants,and set it in a city of traders.
5. Then he took some of the land’s seedand put it in a fertile field; he set it like a willow, a plant by abundant waters.
6. It sprouted and became a spreading vine,low in height with its branches turned toward him, yet its roots stayed under it.So it became a vine,produced branches, and sent out shoots.
7. But there was another great eaglewith great wings and thick plumage.And this vine bent its roots toward him!It stretched out its branches to himfrom its planting bed, so that he might water it.
8. It had been plantedin a good field by abundant watersin order to produce branches,bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.