Study Desk

A Lament Over Israel's Princes

"Take up a lament^(a) concerning the princes^(b) of Israel

and say: "‘What a lioness^(c) was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.^(d)

She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.

The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks^(e) to the land of Egypt.^(f)

"‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs^(g) and made him a strong lion.^(h)

He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.⁽ⁱ⁾

He broke down^[a] their strongholds and devastated^(j) their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.

Then the nations^(k) came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net^(l) for him, and he was trapped in their pit.^(m)

With hooks⁽ⁿ⁾ they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon.^(o) They put him in prison, so his roar^(p) was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.^(q)

"‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard^[b](r) planted by the water;^(s) it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.^(t)

Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler's scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.^(u)

But it was uprooted^(v) in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind^(w) made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.^(x)

Now it is planted in the desert,^(y) in a dry and thirsty land.^(z)

Fire spread from one of its main^[c] branches and consumed^(aa) its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler's scepter.'^(ab) "This is a lament^(ac) and is to be used as a lament."