1. Eleven years after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, the Lord spoke to me on the first day of the third month. He said:
2. Ezekiel, son of man, tell the king of Egypt and his people that I am saying:You are more powerfulthan anyone on earth.Now listen to this.
3. There was once a cedar treein Lebanonwith large, strong branchesreaching to the sky.
4. This tree had plenty of waterto help it grow tall,and nearby streams wateredthe other treesin the forest.
5. But this tree towered overthose other trees,and its branchesgrew long and thick.
6. Birds built nestsin its branches,and animals were bornbeneath it.People from all nationslived in the shadeof this strong tree.
7. It had beautiful,long branches,and its roots found waterdeep in the soil.