⁷When Jotham heard this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted to the people: “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God will listen to you! ⁸One 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?’

¹⁰“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be king over us!’

¹¹“But the fig tree answered, ‘Should I stop making my sweet and good fruit and go and sway over the other trees?’

¹²“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be king over us!’

¹³“But the vine answered, ‘My new wine makes men and gods happy. Should I stop making it and go and sway over the trees?’

¹⁴“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be king over us.’

¹⁵“But the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to appoint me king over you, come and find shelter in my shade! But if not, let fire come out of the thornbush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon!’

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