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A Sad Song for Israel

19 “Sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] for the ·leaders [princes] of Israel. Say:

‘Your mother was a lioness [C referring either to the Davidic dynasty or to Hamutal, the wife of Josiah and mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah; Gen. 49:9; 2 Kin. 23:31–34].
She lay down among the young lions [C the kings of Judah].
    She ·had many [reared her] cubs.
When she ·brought up [reared] one of her cubs,
    he became a ·strong [L young] lion [C King Jehoahaz; 2 Kin. 23:31–34; Jer. 22:10–12].
He learned to tear ·the animals he hunted [prey],
    and he ·ate [devoured] people.
The nations heard about him.
    He was trapped in their pit,
and they brought him with hooks
    to the land of Egypt.
“‘The mother lion waited and saw
    that there was no hope for her cub.
So she took another one of her cubs
    and made him a ·strong [L young] lion [C either Jehoiachin (2 Kin. 24:8) or Zedekiah (2 Kin. 25:7)].
This cub ·roamed [prowled] among the lions.
    He was now a ·strong [L young] lion.
He learned to tear ·the animals he hunted [prey],
    and he ·ate [devoured] people.
He tore down their ·strong places [strongholds; fortresses]
    and ·destroyed [devastated] their cities.
The land and everything in it
    were terrified by the sound of his roar.
Then the nations came against him
    from areas all around,
and they spread their net over him.
    He was trapped in their pit.
Then they put him into a ·cage with chains [collar]
    and brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him into prison
    so his ·roar [voice] could not be heard again
    on the mountains of Israel [2 Kin. 24:8–17; 2 Chr. 36:8–10].

10 “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,
    planted beside the water.
The vine had many branches and gave much fruit,
    because there was plenty of water.
11 The vine had strong ·branches [boughs],
    good enough for a king’s scepter.
The vine became tall
    among the thick branches.
And it ·was seen [stood out], because it was tall
    with many branches.
12 But it was pulled up by its roots in anger
    and thrown down to the ground.
The east wind dried it up.
    Its fruit was ·torn [stripped] off.
Its strong branches were broken off
    and burned up.
13 Now the vine is planted in the ·desert [wilderness],
    in a dry and thirsty land.
14 Fire spread from the vine’s main branch,
    ·destroying [consuming] its fruit.
There is not a strong branch left on it
    ·that could become a [L no] scepter for a king.’

This is a ·funeral song [lament]; it ·is to be used as [or has become] a funeral song.”

A Lament Over Israel’s Princes

19 “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)

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

  1. Ezekiel 19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew
  2. Ezekiel 19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
  3. Ezekiel 19:14 Or from under its