1‘Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel2and say: ‘ “What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.3She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.4The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt.5‘ “When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.6He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.7He broke down[1] their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.8Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.9With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.10‘ “Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard[2] planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.11Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler’s sceptre. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.12But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.13Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.14Fire spread from one of its main[3] branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s sceptre.” This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.’
1And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, (Jer 7:29; Eze 26:17; Eze 27:2; Eze 27:32; Eze 28:12; Eze 32:2; Am 5:1)2and say: What was your mother? A lioness! Among lions she crouched; in the midst of young lions she reared her cubs. (Ge 49:9)3And she brought up one of her cubs; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men. (2Ki 23:30; Eze 22:25; Eze 22:27; Eze 32:2)4The nations heard about him; he was caught in their pit, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. (2Ki 23:33; Jer 22:11; La 4:20)5When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion. (2Ki 23:34; 2Ki 23:36)6He prowled among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men,7and seized[1] their widows. He laid waste their cities, and the land was appalled and all who were in it at the sound of his roaring.8Then the nations set against him from provinces on every side; they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit. (2Ch 36:6; Eze 12:13; Eze 19:4)9With hooks they put him in a cage[2] and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into custody, that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel. (Jer 22:26; Eze 6:2; Eze 19:8)10Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard[3] planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water. (De 8:7; Ps 80:9; Eze 15:6)11Its strong stems became rulers’ scepters; it towered aloft among the thick boughs;[4] it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.12But the vine was plucked up in fury, cast down to the ground; the east wind dried up its fruit; they were stripped off and withered. As for its strong stem, fire consumed it. (Eze 17:10; Ho 13:15)13Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. (2Ki 24:12; Eze 1:1; Ho 2:3)14And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots, has consumed its fruit, so that there remains in it no strong stem, no scepter for ruling. This is a lamentation and has become a lamentation. (2Ki 24:20; Eze 17:15; Eze 19:1; Eze 19:11)