8. The trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9. But the olive tree replied, Should I leave my fatness, which because of me, God and man are honoured, to go and sway over the trees?
10. And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou and reign over us.
11. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit to go and sway over the trees?
12. Then the trees said unto the vine, Come thou and reign over us.
13. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man, to go and sway over the trees?
14. Then all the trees said unto the bramble, Come thou and reign over us.
15. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and confide under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16. Now therefore, if ye have proceeded with truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have recompensed him according to the work of his hands
17. (For my father fought for you and cast his life far from him to deliver you out of the hand of Midian;
18. and ye are risen up against my father’s house this day and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon a stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem because he is your brother;)
19. if ye then have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.