And the word{H1697} of Jehovah{H3068} came unto me, saying,{H559}

Son{H1121} of man,{H120} put forth{H2330} a riddle,{H2420} and speak{H4911} a parable{H4912} unto the house{H1004} of Israel;{H3478}

and say,{H559} Thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} A great{H1419} eagle{H5404} with great{H1419} wings{H3671} and long pinions,{H83} full{H4392} of feathers,{H5133} which had divers colors,{H7553} came{H935} unto Lebanon,{H3844} and took{H3947} the top{H6788} of the cedar:{H730}

he cropped off{H6998} the topmost{H7218} of the young twigs{H3242} thereof, and carried{H935} it unto a land{H776} of traffic;{H3667} he set{H7760} it in a city{H5892} of merchants.{H7402}

He took{H3947} also of the seed{H2233} of the land,{H776} and planted{H5414} it in a fruitful{H2233} soil;{H7704} he placed{H3947} it beside many{H7227} waters;{H4325} he set{H7760} it as a willow-tree.{H6851}

And it grew,{H6779} and became a spreading{H5628} vine{H1612} of low{H8217} stature,{H6967} whose branches{H1808} turned{H6437} toward him, and the roots{H8328} thereof were under him: so it became a vine,{H1612} and brought forth{H6213} branches,{H905} and shot{H7971} forth sprigs.{H6288}

There was also another{H259} great{H1419} eagle{H5404} with great{H1419} wings{H3671} and many{H7227} feathers:{H5133} and, behold, this vine{H1612} did bend{H3719} its roots{H8328} toward him, and shot forth{H7971} its branches{H1808} toward him, from the beds{H6170} of its plantation,{H4302} that he might water{H8248} it.

It was planted{H8362} in a good{H2896} soil{H7704} by many{H7227} waters,{H4325} that it might bring forth{H6213} branches,{H6057} and that it might bear{H5375} fruit,{H6529} that it might be a goodly{H155} vine.{H1612}

Say{H559} thou, Thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} Shall it prosper?{H6743} shall he not pull up{H5423} the roots{H8328} thereof, and cut off{H7082} the fruit{H6529} thereof, that it may wither;{H3001} that all its fresh springing{H6780} leaves{H2964} may wither?{H3001} and not by a strong{H1419} arm{H2220} or much{H7227} people{H5971} can it be raised{H5375} from the roots{H8328} thereof.

Yea, behold, being planted,{H8362} shall it prosper?{H6743} shall it not utterly{H3001} wither,{H3001} when the east{H6921} wind{H7307} toucheth{H5060} it? it shall wither{H3001} in the beds{H6170} where it grew.{H6780}

Moreover the word{H1697} of Jehovah{H3068} came unto me, saying,{H559}

Say{H559} now to the rebellious{H4805} house,{H1004} Know{H3045} ye not what these things mean? tell{H559} them, Behold, the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} came{H935} to Jerusalem,{H3389} and took{H3947} the king{H4428} thereof, and the princes{H8269} thereof, and brought{H935} them to him to Babylon:{H894}

and he took{H3947} of the seed{H2233} royal,{H4410} and made{H3772} a covenant{H1285} with him; he also brought{H935} him under an oath,{H423} and took{H935} away the mighty{H352} of the land;{H776}

that the kingdom{H4467} might be base,{H8217} that it might not lift itself up,{H5375} but that by keeping{H8104} his covenant{H1285} it might stand.{H5975}

But he rebelled{H4775} against him in sending{H7971} his ambassadors{H4397} into Egypt,{H4714} that they might give{H5414} him horses{H5483} and much{H7227} people.{H5971} Shall he prosper?{H6743} shall he escape{H4422} that doeth{H6213} such things? shall he break{H6565} the covenant,{H1285} and yet escape?{H4422}

As I live,{H2416} saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} Jehovah,{H3069} surely in the place{H4725} where the king{H4428} dwelleth that made him king,{H4427} whose oath{H423} he despised,{H959} and whose covenant{H1285} he brake,{H6565} even with him in the midst{H8432} of Babylon{H894} he shall die.{H4191}

Neither shall Pharaoh{H6547} with his mighty{H1419} army{H2428} and great{H7227} company{H6951} help{H6213} him in the war,{H4421} when they cast up{H8210} mounds{H5550} and build{H1129} forts,{H1785} to cut off{H3772} many{H7227} persons.{H5315}

For he hath despised{H959} the oath{H423} by breaking{H6565} the covenant;{H1285} and behold, he had given{H5414} his hand,{H3027} and yet hath done{H6213} all these things; he shall not escape.{H4422}

Therefore thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} As I live,{H2416} surely mine oath{H423} that he hath despised,{H959} and my covenant{H1285} that he hath broken,{H6331} I will even bring{H5414} it upon his own head.{H7218}

And I will spread{H6566} my net{H7568} upon him, and he shall be taken{H8610} in my snare,{H4686} and I will bring{H935} him to Babylon,{H894} and will enter into judgment{H8199} with him there for his trespass{H4603} that he hath trespassed{H4604} against me.

And all his fugitives{H4015} in all his bands{H102} shall fall{H5307} by the sword,{H2719} and they that remain{H7604} shall be scattered{H6566} toward every wind:{H7307} and ye shall know{H3045} that I, Jehovah,{H3068} have spoken{H1696} it.

Thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} I will also take{H3947} of the lofty{H7311} top{H6788} of the cedar,{H730} and will set{H5414} it; I will crop off{H6998} from the topmost{H7218} of its young twigs{H3127} a tender one,{H7390} and I will plant{H8362} it upon a high{H1364} and lofty{H8524} mountain:{H2022}

in the mountain{H2022} of the height{H4791} of Israel{H3478} will I plant{H8362} it; and it shall bring forth{H5375} boughs,{H6057} and bear{H6213} fruit,{H6529} and be a goodly{H117} cedar:{H730} and under it shall dwell{H7931} all birds{H6833} of every wing;{H3671} in the shade{H6738} of the branches{H1808} thereof shall they dwell.{H7931}

And all the trees{H6086} of the field{H7704} shall know{H3045} that I, Jehovah,{H3068} have brought down{H8213} the high{H1364} tree,{H6086} have exalted{H1361} the low{H8217} tree,{H6086} have dried{H3001} up the green{H3892} tree,{H6086} and have made the dry{H3002} tree{H6086} to flourish;{H6524} I, Jehovah,{H3068} have spoken{H1696} and have done{H6213} it.