1. the Lord’s word came to me, saying,
2. “Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;
3. and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar.
4. He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, and carried it to a land of traffic. He planted it in a city of merchants.
5. “‘“He also took some of the seed of the land, and planted it in fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree.
6. It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him. So it became a vine, produced branches, and shot out sprigs.