Ezekiel 31:3-14

3Think about how powerful Assyria was. At one time, it was as strong as a great cedar tree in Lebanon. It had beautiful branches that gave shade in the forest. It was very tall. Its top reached up to the clouds.

4Springs of water from under the ground helped it to grow very tall. Rivers passed around the place where the tree was. Streams from there gave water to all the trees in the forest.

5So this cedar tree grew taller than all the other trees. Its branches became large and very long. It grew very well because it had plenty of water.

6All kinds of birds built their nests among its leaves. Under its branches, the wild animals gave birth. All the great nations lived in its shade.

7It was great and beautiful, with long branches. Its roots went down deep into the ground and they drank plenty of water.

8The cedar trees in God's garden were not as beautiful. The branches of the pine trees were not as strong. No other tree in God's garden was nearly as great or as beautiful.

9I made that tree beautiful, with all its strong branches. All the trees in Eden, God's garden, were jealous of that tree.

10So this is what the Almighty Lord says: That great tree, Assyria, was very tall. Its top reached up to the clouds. It was very proud because it was so great.

11Because of that, I put it under the power of the ruler of the nations. He has punished it as it deserved for its sins. In that way, I have removed it.

12Foreigners from cruel nations have cut it down. They have left it on the ground. Its broken branches lie on the mountains and in the valleys. The people of other nations no longer live in its shade. They have gone away.

13Now the birds go and sit on the bits of the tree that remain. The wild animals walk over its branches.

14Because of that, no tree will ever grow as tall again. Even if it receives plenty of water, no tree will grow so tall that its top reaches up to the clouds. All trees will die and fall to the ground. Like people, they must die and go into their graves, under the ground.