1-6. God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, make a riddle for the house of Israel. Tell them a story. Say, ‘God, the Master, says:“‘A great eaglewith a huge wingspan and long feathers,In full plumage and bright colors,came to LebanonAnd took the top off a cedar,broke off the top branch,Took it to a land of traders,and set it down in a city of shopkeepers.Then he took a cutting from the landand planted it in good, well-watered soil,like a willow on a riverbank.It sprouted into a flourishing vine,low to the ground.Its branches grew toward the eagleand the roots became established—A vine putting out shoots,developing branches.
7-8. “‘There was another great eaglewith a huge wingspan and thickly feathered.This vine sent out its roots toward himfrom the place where it was planted.Its branches reached out to himso he could water itfrom a long distance.It had been plantedin good, well-watered soil,And it put out branches and bore fruit,and became a noble vine.
9-10. “‘God, the Master, says,Will it thrive?Won’t he just pull it up by the rootsand leave the grapes to rotAnd the branches to shrivel up,a withered, dead vine?It won’t take much strengthor many hands to pull it up.Even if it’s transplanted,will it thrive?When the hot east wind strikes it,won’t it shrivel up?Won’t it dry up and blow awayfrom the place where it was planted?’”
11-12. God’s Message came to me: “Tell this house of rebels, ‘Do you get it? Do you know what this means?’
12-14. “Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its leaders back to Babylon. He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, making him swear his loyalty. The king of Babylon took all the top leaders into exile to make sure that this kingdom stayed weak—didn’t get any big ideas of itself—and kept the covenant with him so that it would have a future.