1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2. “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel,
3. and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:“A great eagle with large wings and long pinions,Full of feathers of various colors,Came to LebanonAnd took from the cedar the highest branch.
4. He cropped off its topmost young twigAnd carried it to a land of trade;He set it in a city of merchants.
5. Then he took some of the seed of the landAnd planted it in a fertile field;He placed it by abundant watersAnd set it like a willow tree.
6. And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature;Its branches turned toward him,But its roots were under it.So it became a vine,Brought forth branches,And put forth shoots.
7. “But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers;And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him,And stretched its branches toward him,From the garden terrace where it had been planted,That he might water it.
8. It was planted in good soil by many waters,To bring forth branches, bear fruit,And become a majestic vine.” ’