5. So it grew higher than any other tree in the fields. It grew more limbs. Its branches grew long. They spread because they had plenty of water.
6. All of the birds of the air made their nests in its limbs. All of the wild animals had their babies under its branches. All of the great nations lived in its shade.
7. Its spreading branches made it majestic and beautiful. Its roots went down deep to where there was plenty of water.
8. The cedar trees in my garden were no match for it. The pine trees could not equal its limbs. The plane trees could not compare with its branches. No tree in my garden could match its beauty.
9. I gave it many branches. They made it beautiful. All of the trees in my Garden of Eden were jealous of it.' "
10. So the Lord and King says, "The cedar tree grew very high. Its top was above all of the leaves. It was proud of how tall it was.
11. So I handed it over to the Babylonian ruler of the nations. I wanted him to punish it because it was so evil. I decided to get rid of it.
12. "The Babylonians cut it down and left it there. They did not show it any pity at all. Some of its branches fell on the mountains. Others fell in all of the valleys. They lay broken in all of the stream beds in the land. All of the nations on earth came out from under its shade. And they went on their way.
13. All of the birds of the air settled on the fallen tree. All of the wild animals moved among its branches.
14. "So trees that receive plenty of water must never grow so high that it makes them proud. Their tops must never be above the rest of the leaves. No other trees that receive a lot of water must ever grow that high. They are appointed to die and go down into the earth below. They will join the other nations that go down into the grave."