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

9 “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?’

8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9 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?

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

First they said to the olive tree,

‘Be our king!’

9 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?’

8 “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them.

And they said to the olive tree,

‘Reign over us!’

9 But the olive tree said to them,

‘Should I cease giving my oil,

With which they honor God and men,

And go to sway over trees?’

8 One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You be king over us!’

9 “But the olive tree said, ‘Men and gods are honored by my oil. Should I stop making it and go and sway over the other trees?’

8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

8 The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign over us. 9 And the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave over the trees?

8 “The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them. 

They said to the olive tree, 

‘Be our king!’ 

9 But the olive tree responded, 

‘Should I stop producing oil, 

which people use to honor gods and humans, 

in order to rule the trees?’ 

8 The trees set out

to anoint a king over themselves.

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

9 But the olive tree said to them,

“Should I stop giving my oil

that honors both God and man,

and rule over the trees?”

8 The trees once went out

to anoint a king over themselves.

So they said to the olive tree,

‘Reign over us.’

9 The olive tree answered them,

‘Shall I stop producing my rich oil

by which gods and mortals are honored,

and go to sway over the trees?’

8 “The trees went certainly,

to anoint a king over themselves.

And they said to the olive tree,

‘Rule over us.’

9 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?’

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

9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my olive oil? It’s used to honor gods and people alike. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?’

8 “Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

9 “But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’