1 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 Son of man, tell this parable, which has a hidden meaning, to the house of Israel;

3 Say, The Lord GOD says; A great eagle with a wide wingspan, long feathers, and multi-colored plumage, came to Lebanon, and snatched the highest branches of the cedars:

4 He broke off the young tip of the tree, and carried it to a land of merchants; he set it down in a city of traders.

5 He then took a seedling from that land, and planted it in a fertile field; he placed it by an abundant water source, like a willow tree.

6 And it grew, and became a low spreading vine, with its branches turning toward him, and the roots growing downward: so it became a vine, and grew limbs, and shot forth sprigs.

7 Then there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers: and, behold, from the furrows where it was planted this vine bent its roots toward him, and stretched out its branches toward him, that he might water it.

8 It was planted in good soil by an abundant water source, so that it would produce branches, and bear fruit, and be a splendid vine.

9 Then say, The Lord GOD asks; Can it flourish? will he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves will dry up? It will not take a strong arm or a great army to pluck it up by its roots.

10 Even though it is transplanted, can it flourish? will it not completely dry up, when the east wind blows on it? it will dry up in the furrows where it grew.

11 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

12 Now say to the rebellious house, Don’t you know the meaning of this parable? Tell them, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took its king and leaders, and brought them back to Babylon with him;

13 Then he took one of the king’s offspring, and made an agreement with him, putting him under oath: and took away the leading men of the land:

14 So that the kingdom might be subservient, and unable to rise up, but by keeping his agreement might continue to exist.

15 But he rebelled against him by sending ambassadors to Egypt, so that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he succeed? will anyone who does this escape? can he break his agreement, and go free?

16 As I live, says the Lord GOD, in the land of the king who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose agreement he broke, there with him in Babylon he will die.

17 Nor will Pharaoh with his mighty army and unnumbered resources do anything for him in the war, when mounds are thrown up, and siege walls are built, with the loss of many lives:

18 Since he despised the oath, broke the agreement, and has done all these things, even though he had given his hand in pledge, he will not escape.

19 Therefore the Lord GOD says; As I live, for scorning my oath, and breaking my agreement, I will certainly punish him.

20 And I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare, and I will take him to Babylon, and try him there for his transgression and the treason he committed against me.

21 And all the choice men among troops will fall by the sword, and those who remain will be scattered in every direction: and you will know that I the LORD have said it.

22 ¶ The Lord GOD says; I too will take a topmost branch from a high cedar, and will plant it; I will break off a tender twig from those on top, and will plant it on a high and lofty hill:

23 I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel: and it will produce branches, and bear fruit, and be a noble cedar: and under it will dwell all birds of every feather; they will live in the shadow of its branches.

24 And all the trees of the field will know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree flourish: I the LORD have said it and will do it.