Ezekiel 19

1. “Moreover, raise a lament for the leaders of Isra’el;

2. say: 2 ‘What a mother you had — 2 a lioness among lions! 2 She lay down among young lions 2 and reared her cubs.

3. One of her cubs she singled out: 3 he became a young lion, 3 he learned to seize his prey, 3 he became a man-eater.

4. The nations sounded an alarm against him; 4 and he was caught in their pit. 4 With hooks they dragged him off 4 to the land of Egypt.

5. When she saw that she had been thwarted, 5 that her hope was lost, 5 she took another of her cubs 5 and made a young lion of him.

6. He prowled among the lions, 6 grew to be a young lion, 6 learned to seize his prey 6 and became a man-eater.

7. He raped their widows 7 and destroyed their cities; 7 the land and all in it were appalled 7 at the sound of his roaring.

8. The nations set a snare for him 8 from the provinces all around, 8 they spread their net over him, 8 and he was caught in their pit.

9. With hooks they put him in a cage 9 and brought him to the king of Bavel 9 to imprison him in a fortress, 9 so that his roar would be heard no more 9 on the mountains of Isra’el.

10. “‘Your mother was like a strong grapevine 10 planted by the water. 10 It was fruitful and luxuriant 10 because of the abundant water.

11. It had strong branches 11 to be used as scepters by rulers; 11 besides having thick foliage, 11 it grew taller and taller, 11 until its height was noticed, 11 with its mass of branches.

12. But it was torn up in fury 12 and flung on the ground. 12 An east wind withered her fruit, 12 her strong branches were broken off; 12 they dried up; and fire consumed the vine.

13. It has been transplanted to the desert, 13 to a dry, thirsty land.

14. Fire has gone out from its own branches, 14 burning up its fruit, 14 so that now it has no strong branch 14 to be a ruler’s scepter.’” 14 This lamentation became very well known.