Ezekiel 19

1 “As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel

“Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

2 and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs.

and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness. She couched amongst lions, in the middle of the young lions she nourished her cubs.

3 She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

She brought up one of her cubs. He became a young lion. He learnt to catch the prey. He devoured men.

4 When the nations heard of him, he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they led him away to the land of Egypt.

The nations also heard of him. He was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

5 When she saw that she had waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.

“‘Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her cubs, and made him a young lion.

6 He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

He went up and down amongst the lions. He became a young lion. He learnt to catch the prey. He devoured men.

7 He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.

He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities. The land was desolate with its fullness, because of the noise of his roaring.

8 Then the nations set out against him from the provinces on every side. They spread their net over him; he was trapped in their pit.

Then the nations attacked him on every side from the provinces. They spread their net over him. He was taken in their pit.

9 With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

They put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into strongholds, so that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.

10 Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters.

“‘Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters. It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.

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

It had strong branches for the sceptres of those who ruled. Their stature was exalted amongst the thick boughs. They were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.

12 But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them.

But it was plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were broken off and withered. The fire consumed them.

13 Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

14 Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”

Fire has gone out of its branches. It has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong branch to be a sceptre to rule.’ This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.”