2. Son of man, propose a figure and compose an enigma unto the house of Israel
3. and say: Thus hath the Lord GOD said, A great eagle with great wings and long members, full of feathers of diverse colours, came unto Lebanon and took the highest branch of the cedar:
4. he cropped off the principal shoot and carried it into a land of markets; he set it in the city of the merchants.
5. He also took 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 vine of many branches, low of stature, whose branches looked at him, and its roots 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 joined her roots toward him and extended her branches toward him that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
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.