Ezekiel 17:2-10

2“Son of man, ask a riddle and present a 1parable to the house of Israel, 32saying, ‘This is what the Lord 3God says: “A great 45eagle with 6great wings, long pinions, and a full plumage of many colors came to 78Lebanon and took away the top of the 9cedar. 4He broke off the 10topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a 11city of traders. 5He also took 12from the seed of the land and planted 13it in 1415fertile soil, a 16meadow beside abundant waters; he set it like a 17willow. 6Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced shoots and sent out branches.

7“But there was 18another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine turned its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was 19planted, so that he might water it. 8It was planted in good 20soil beside abundant waters, so that it would produce branches and bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.”’ 9Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers--so that all its sprouting shoots wither? And neither by great 21strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again. 10Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not 22completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it--wither on the beds where it grew?”’”