Judges 9:8–15

One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

The trees decided

to anoint a king over themselves.

They said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.”

But the olive tree said to them,

“Should I stop giving my oil

that people use to honor both God and men,

and rule over the trees?”

Then the trees said to the fig tree,

“Come and reign over us.”

But the fig tree said to them,

“Should I stop giving

my sweetness and my good fruit,

and rule over trees?”

Later, the trees said to the grapevine,

“Come and reign over us.”

But the grapevine said to them,

“Should I stop giving my wine

that cheers both God and man,

and rule over trees?”

Finally, all the trees said to the bramble,

“Come and reign over us.”

The bramble said to the trees,

“If you really are anointing me

as king over you,

come and find refuge in my shade.

But if not,

may fire come out from the bramble

and consume the cedars of Lebanon.”

Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.

First they said to the olive tree,

‘Be our king!’

But the olive tree refused, saying,

‘Should I quit producing the olive oil

that blesses both God and people,

just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“Then they said to the fig tree,

‘You be our king!’

But the fig tree also refused, saying,

‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit

just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“Then they said to the grapevine,

‘You be our king!’

But the grapevine also refused, saying,

‘Should I quit producing the wine

that cheers both God and people,

just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,

‘Come, you be our king!’

And the thornbush replied to the trees,

‘If you truly want to make me your king,

come and take shelter in my shade.

If not, let fire come out from me

and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ ”

“The trees went certainly,

to anoint a king over themselves.

And they said to the olive tree,

‘Rule over us.’

And the olive tree replied,

‘Should I stop producing my oil,

which by me gods and men are honored,

to go sway over the trees?’

Then the trees said to the fig tree,

‘You, come rule over us.’

But the fig tree said to them,

‘Should I stop producing my sweetness,

and my good crop,

to go sway over the trees?’

And the trees said to the vine,

‘You, come rule over us.’

But the vine said to them,

‘Should I stop producing my wine

that makes the gods and men happy,

to go sway over the trees?’

So all the trees said to the thornbush,

‘You, come rule over us.’

And the thornbush said to the trees,

‘If in good faith you are anointing

me as king over you,

then come and take refuge in my shade;

if not, may fire go out from the thornbush

and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.