Ezekiel 19
New International Reader's Version
A Song of Sadness About Israel’s Princes
19 “Sing a song of sadness about Israel’s princes. 2 Say to Israel,
“ ‘You were like a mother lion to your princes.
She lay down among the lions.
She brought up her cubs.
3 One of them was Jehoahaz.
He became a strong lion.
He learned to tear apart what he caught.
And he became a man-eater.
4 The nations heard about him.
They trapped him in their pit.
They put hooks in his face.
And they led him away to Egypt.
5 “ ‘The mother lion looked and waited.
But all her hope was gone.
So she got another one of her cubs.
She made him into a strong lion.
6 He prowled with the lions.
He became very strong.
He learned to tear apart what he caught.
And he became a man-eater.
7 He broke down their forts.
He completely destroyed their towns.
The land and all those who were in it
were terrified when he roared.
8 Then nations came against him.
They came from all around him.
They spread out their net to catch him.
He was trapped in their pit.
9 They used hooks to pull him into a cage.
They brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him in prison.
So his roar was not heard anymore
on the mountains of Israel.
10 “ ‘Israel, you were like a vine in a vineyard.
It was planted near water.
It had a lot of fruit and many branches.
There was plenty of water.
11 Its branches were strong.
Each was good enough to be made into a ruler’s scepter.
The vine grew high
above all the leaves.
It stood out because it was so tall
and had so many branches.
12 But Nebuchadnezzar became angry.
He pulled it up by its roots.
He threw it to the ground.
The east wind dried it up.
Its fruit was stripped off.
Its strong branches dried up.
And fire destroyed them.
13 Now it is planted in the Babylonian desert.
It is in a dry and thirsty land.
14 One of its main branches was Zedekiah.
Fire spread from it and burned up its fruit.
None of its branches is good enough
to be made into a ruler’s scepter.’
This is a song of sadness. And that is how it should be used.”
Ezekiel 19
New International Version
A Lament Over Israel’s Princes
19 “Take up a lament(A) concerning the princes(B) of Israel 2 and say:
“‘What a lioness(C) was your mother
among the lions!
She lay down among them
and reared her cubs.(D)
3 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.
4 The nations heard about him,
and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks(E)
to the land of Egypt.(F)
5 “‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs(G)
and made him a strong lion.(H)
6 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)
7 He broke down[a] their strongholds
and devastated(J) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
were terrified by his roaring.
8 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)
9 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)
10 “‘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)
11 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)
12 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)
13 Now it is planted in the desert,(Y)
in a dry and thirsty land.(Z)
14 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.”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew
- Ezekiel 19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
- Ezekiel 19:14 Or from under its
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