7. When Jotham heard this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. Jotham shouted to the people: “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem. Then God may listen to you!
8. One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You be king over us!’
9. “But the olive tree said, ‘Men and gods are honored by my oil. Should I stop making it just to go and sway over the other trees?’
10. “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king!’
11. “But the fig tree answered, ‘Should I stop making my sweet and good fruit? Should I stop just to go and sway over the other trees?’
12. “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13. “But the vine answered, ‘My wine makes men and gods happy. Should I stop making it just to go and sway over the trees?’