1. And the word of יהוה came to me, saying,
2. “Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Yisra’ĕl.
3. “And you shall say, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “The great eagle with large wings of long pinions, covered with feathers of various colours, came to Leḇanon and took the top of the cedar.
4. “He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of traders. In a city of merchants he placed it.
5. “He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a field for seed. He took it by many waters, set it like a willow tree.
6. “So it grew and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, and its roots were under it. And it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and sent out shoots.
7. “And there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers. And see, this vine bent its roots toward him, and stretched its branches toward him, to water it, away from the beds where it was planted.
8. “It was planted in a good field by many waters, to bring forth branches, and to bear fruit, to be a splendid vine.” ’