Ezekiel 17:5–10

⁵Then he took some of the seed of the land

And planted it in ^da fertile field;

He placed it by abundant waters

And set it ^elike a willow tree.

⁶And it grew and became a spreading vine ^fof low stature;

Its branches turned toward him,

But its roots were under it.

So it became a vine,

Brought forth branches,

And put forth shoots.

⁷“But there was ¹another great eagle with large wings and many feathers;

And behold, ^gthis vine bent its roots toward him,

And stretched its branches toward him,

From the garden terrace where it had been planted,

That he might water it.

⁸It was planted in ²good soil by many waters,

To bring forth branches, bear fruit,

And become a majestic vine.” ’

⁹“Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Will it thrive?

^hWill he not pull up its roots,

Cut off its fruit,

And leave it to wither?

All of its spring leaves will wither,

And no great power or many people

Will be needed to pluck it up by its roots.

¹⁰Behold, it is planted,

Will it thrive?

ⁱWill it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it?

It will wither in the garden terrace where it grew.” ’ ”