Ezekiel 19
1“Now you, take up a lamentation against the leaders of Israel
2and say, 1 'Who was your mother? A lioness, she lived with a lion's son; 1 in the midst of young lions, she nurtured her cubs. 1
3She is the one who raised up one of her cubs to become a young lion, a lion who learned to tear apart his victims, and then he devoured men. 1
4Then the nations heard about him. He was caught in their trap, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. 1
5Then she saw that although she had waited for his return, her expectation was now gone, so she took another of her cubs and raised him to become a young lion. 1
6This young lion roamed about in the midst of lions. He was a young lion and learned to tear his victims; he devoured men. 1
7He seized their widows and ruined their cities. 1 The land and its fullness were abandoned because of the sound of his roaring. + 19:7 Instead of He seized their widows , some ancient copies and many modern versions have He destroyed their fortresses . 1
8But the nations came against him from the surrounding provinces; 1 they spread their nets over him. He was caught in their trap. 1
9With hooks they put him in a cage and then they brought him to the king of Babylon. 1 They brought him to the strongholds so that his voice would no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel. 1
10Your mother was like a vine planted in your blood beside the water. + 19:10 Instead of in your blood , some ancient copies and many modern versions have in your vineyard . 1 it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundance of water. 1
11It had strong branches that were used for rulers' scepters, 1 and its size was exalted above the branches, 1 and its height was seen by the greatness of its foliage. 1
12But the vine was uprooted in fury and thrown down to the earth, and an eastern wind dried out its fruit. 1 Its strong branches were broken off and withered and fire consumed them. 1
13So now it is planted in the wilderness, in a land of drought and thirst. 1
14For fire went out from her large branches and consumed its fruit. 1 There is no strong branch on it, no scepter to rule.' This is a lamentation and will be sung as a lamentation.”