Study Desk

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

"Son of man, ask a riddle and present a ^(C1)parable to the house of Israel,

^(F1)saying, 'This is what the Lord ^(F2)GOD says: "A great ^(F3)(C1)eagle with ^(C2)great wings, long pinions, and a full plumage of many colors came to ^(F4)(C3)Lebanon and took away the top of the ^(F5)cedar.

"He broke off the ^(F1)topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a ^(F2)city of traders.

"He also took ^(F1)from the seed of the land and planted ^(F1)it in ^(F2)(C1)fertile soil, a ^(F3)meadow beside abundant waters; he set it like a ^(C2)willow.

"Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced shoots and sent out branches.

"But there was ^(F1)another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine turned its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was ^(C1)planted, so that he might water it.

"It was planted in good ^(F1)soil beside abundant waters, so that it would produce branches and bear fruit, and become a splendid vine."'

"Say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers—so that all its sprouting shoots wither? And neither by great ^(F1)strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again.

"Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not ^(C1)completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it—wither on the beds where it grew?"'"