Ezekiel 19
19
A funeral song for Israel's leaders
The LORD said:
1Ezekiel, sing a funeral song for two of Israel's leaders:#19.1 two of Israel's leaders: Probably Jehoahaz (ruled three months in 609 BC) and Jehoiachin (ruled three months in 598 BC) or Zedekiah (598-586 BC).
2Your mother was a brave lioness
who raised her cubs
among lions.
3She taught one of them to hunt,
and he learnt to eat people.
4When the nations heard of him,
they trapped him in a pit,
then they used hooks
to drag him to Egypt.
5His mother waited
for him to return.
But soon she lost all hope
and raised another cub,
who also became fierce.
6He hunted with other lions
and learnt to eat people.
7He destroyed fortresses#19.7 He destroyed fortresses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
and ruined towns;
his mighty roar
terrified everyone.
8Nations plotted to kill him,
and people came from everywhere
to spread out a net
and catch him in a trap.
9They put him in a cage
and took him to Babylonia.
The lion was locked away,
so that his mighty roar
would never again be heard
on Israel's hills.
10Your mother was a vine#19.10 Your mother was a vine: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
growing near a stream.
There was plenty of water,
so she was filled with branches
and with lots of fruit.
11Her strong branches
became symbols of authority,
and she was taller
than all other trees—
everyone could see how strong
and healthy she was.
12But in anger, I pulled her up
by the roots
and threw her to the ground,
where the scorching desert wind
dried out her fruit.
Her strong branches wilted
and burnt up.
13Then she was planted
in a hot, dry desert,
14where her stem caught fire,
and flames burnt
her branches and fruit.
Not one strong branch is left;
she is stripped bare.
This funeral song must be sung with sorrow.
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Ezekiel 19: CEVUK
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012