7. And they informed Yotham, and he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out, and said to them, “Hear me, you masters of Sheḵem, and let Elohim hear you!
8. “The trees went forth to anoint a sovereign over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘reign over us!’
9. “And the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my oil, with which they esteem mighty ones and men, and go to sway over trees?’
10. “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come, reign over us!’
11. “And the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over trees?’
12. “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come, reign over us!’
13. “And the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which rejoices mighty ones and men, and go to sway over trees?’
14. “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come, reign over us!’
15. “And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as sovereign over you, come, take shelter in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Leḇanon!’
16. “And now, if you have acted in truth and integrity in setting up Aḇimeleḵ to reign, and if you have acted well with Yerubba‛al and his house, and have done to him as his hands did to you –
17. for my father fought for you and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Miḏyan,
18. but you have risen up against my father’s house today, and slew his seventy sons on one stone, and set up Aḇimeleḵ, the son of his female servant, to reign over the masters of Sheḵem, because he is your brother –