7. When this was reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and cried out in a loud voice:“Hear me, lords of Shechem,and may God hear you!
8. One day the trees went outto anoint a king over themselves.So they said to the olive tree,‘Reign over us.’
9. But the olive tree answered them,‘Must I give up my rich oil,whereby gods and human beings are honored,and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
10. Then the trees said to the fig tree,‘Come; you reign over us!’
11. But the fig tree answered them,‘Must I give up my sweetnessand my sweet fruit,and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
12. Then the trees said to the vine,‘Come you, reign over us.’
13. But the vine answered them,‘Must I give up my winethat cheers gods and human beings,and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
14. Then all the trees said to the buckthorn,‘Come; you reign over us!’