1. And the Devar Hashem came unto me, saying,
2. Ben adam, put forth an allegory, and speak a mashal unto the Bais Yisroel;
3. And say, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: A nesher hagadol with great kenafayim (wings), long pinions, full of plumage, which had various colors, came unto Levanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.
4. He broke off its topmost young twig, and carried it into an eretz kena'an (land of trade); he set it in a city of merchants [i.e., Babylon].
5. He took also of the zera of ha'aretz, and planted it in a fertile sadeh; he placed it by abundant mayim, and set it out like a willow tree.