Ezekiel

¹ “Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel

² “‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs.

³ and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he devoured men.

⁴ and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

⁵ her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.

⁶ for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he devoured men.

⁷ and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.

⁸ those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.

⁹ and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

¹⁰ planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.

¹¹ fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.

¹² and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.

¹³ in a dry and thirsty land.

¹⁴ and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.”