Ezekiel 17

1 The Lord’s word came to me. 2 “Son of man, tell a tale and speak a parable to the house of Israel.” 3 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: A great eagle with large wings spread very wide and with many talons planned to enter Lebanon. It took the cedar’s choice branches.’” 4 “It clipped off the ends of the tender twigs, brought them to Canaan, and placed them in a fortified city.” [a] 5 “It took seed from the land and planted it in a field beside abundant water, setting it in a prominent place.” 6 “The seed sprouted and became a weak, low vine. Its branches appeared above it while its roots remained beneath it. It became a vine, produced shoots, and extended its tendrils.” 7 “There was another great eagle with large wings and many talons. The vine twisted toward it, turned its roots toward it, and sent its branches toward it so that the eagle might water it together with its planted soil.” 8 “It flourished in a good field beside abundant water so that it could produce shoots, bear fruit, and become a great vine.” 9 “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Will it prosper? Will not its tender roots and fruit rot and all its early shoots dry up? No mighty arm or large army will be needed to uproot it.’” 10 “Look, it is flourishing, but will it prosper? Will it not wither as soon as the scorching wind touches it? It will wither along with the soil where it sprouted.” 11 The Lord’s word came to me. 12 “Son of man, ask the rebellious house, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘When Babylon’s king comes against Jerusalem, he will take its king and rulers and bring them back with him to Babylon.’” 13 “He will take someone from the royal family, make a covenant with him, and bind him by an oath. He will also take the land’s rulers,” 14 “so that it will become a weak kingdom and never exalt itself, but will keep his covenant and uphold it.” 15 “But he will rebel against him and send his messengers to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he prosper? Will the one who opposes him be preserved? Will the one who breaks the covenant be saved?” [b] 16 “As I live, says the Lord, he will die in Babylon beside the king who made him king, because he dishonored my oath and broke my covenant.” 17 “Pharaoh will not fight for him with a large force or a great multitude when siege mounds are raised and siege engines built to destroy lives.” 18 “He despised the oath and broke the covenant. Look, he gave his hand in pledge and then did all these things. He will not escape.” 19 “Therefore, this is what the Lord says: As I live, I will bring on his own head my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke.” 20 “I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in its snare.” 21 “His forces will fall by the sword in every battle, and I will scatter his survivors to every wind. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.” 22 “This is what the Lord says: I will take one of the cedar’s choice branches. I will clip it from the top of those branches and plant it on a high mountain. I will hang it” 23 “on a lofty mountain of Israel and plant it. It will produce shoots, bear fruit, and become a great cedar. Every animal will rest beneath it, every bird will rest under its shade, and its branches will be restored.” 24 “All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord who brings down the high tree and raises the low tree, who withers the green tree and makes the dry tree flourish. I, the Lord, have spoken and will act.”