1. Then this message came to me from the lord:
2. “Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel.
3. Give them this message from the Sovereign lord:“A great eagle with broad wings and long feathers,covered with many-colored plumage,came to Lebanon.He seized the top of a cedar tree
4. and plucked off its highest branch.He carried it away to a city filled with merchants.He planted it in a city of traders.
5. He also took a seedling from the landand planted it in fertile soil.He placed it beside a broad river,where it could grow like a willow tree.
6. It took root there andgrew into a low, spreading vine.Its branches turned up toward the eagle,and its roots grew down into the ground.It produced strong branchesand put out shoots.
7. But then another great eagle camewith broad wings and full plumage.So the vine now sent its roots and branchestoward him for water,
8. even though it was already planted in good soiland had plenty of waterso it could grow into a splendid vineand produce rich leaves and luscious fruit.
9. “So now the Sovereign lord asks:Will this vine grow and prosper?No! I will pull it up, roots and all!I will cut off its fruitand let its leaves wither and die.I will pull it up easilywithout a strong arm or a large army.
10. But when the vine is transplanted,will it thrive?No, it will wither awaywhen the east wind blows against it.It will die in the same good soilwhere it had grown so well.”
11. Then this message came to me from the lord:
12. “Say to these rebels of Israel: Don’t you understand the meaning of this riddle of the eagles? The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took away her king and princes, and brought them to Babylon.
13. He made a treaty with a member of the royal family and forced him to take an oath of loyalty. He also exiled Israel’s most influential leaders,