Hesekiel 19 | New International Reader’s Version

A song of sadness about Israel’s princes

1 ‘Sing a song of sadness about Israel’s princes. 2 Say to Israel, ‘ “You were like a mother lion to your princes. She lay down among the lions. She brought up her cubs. 3 One of them was Jehoahaz. He became a strong lion. He learned to tear apart what he caught. And he became a man-eater. 4 The nations heard about him. They trapped him in their pit. They put hooks in his face. And they led him away to Egypt. 5 ‘ “The mother lion looked and waited. But all her hope was gone. So she got another one of her cubs. She made him into a strong lion. 6 He prowled with the lions. He became very strong. He learned to tear apart what he caught. And he became a man-eater. 7 He broke down their forts. He completely destroyed their towns. The land and all those who were in it were terrified when he roared. 8 Then nations came against him. They came from all around him. They spread out their net to catch him. He was trapped in their pit. 9 They used hooks to pull him into a cage. They brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison. So his roar was not heard anymore on the mountains of Israel. 10 ‘ “Israel, you were like a vine in a vineyard. It was planted near water. It had a lot of fruit and many branches. There was plenty of water. 11 Its branches were strong. Each was good enough to be made into a ruler’s sceptre. The vine grew high above all the leaves. It stood out because it was so tall and had so many branches. 12 But Nebuchadnezzar became angry. He pulled it up by its roots. He threw it to the ground. The east wind dried it up. Its fruit was stripped off. Its strong branches dried up. And fire destroyed them. 13 Now it is planted in the Babylonian desert. It is in a dry and thirsty land. 14 One of its main branches was Zedekiah. Fire spread from it and burned up its fruit. None of its branches is good enough to be made into a ruler’s sceptre.” This is a song of sadness. And that is how it should be used.’

English Standard Version

A Lament for the Princes of Israel

1 And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 and say: What was your mother? A lioness! Among lions she crouched; in the midst of young lions she reared her cubs. 3 And she brought up one of her cubs; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men. 4 The nations heard about him; he was caught in their pit, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. 5 When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion. 6 He prowled among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men, 7 and seized* their widows. He laid waste their cities, and the land was appalled and all who were in it at the sound of his roaring. 8 Then the nations set against him from provinces on every side; they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit. 9 With hooks they put him in a cage* 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. 10 Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard* planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water. 11 Its strong stems became rulers’ scepters; it towered aloft among the thick boughs;* it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches. 12 But 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. 13 Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. 14 And 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.

Hesekiel 19 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

A song of sadness about Israel’s princes

A Lament for the Princes of Israel