1 "Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel |
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3 She brought up one of her cubs,
and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he devoured men. |
4 The nations heard about him,
and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks
to the land of Egypt. |
5 " 'When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs
and made him a strong lion. |
6 He prowled among the lions,
for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he devoured men. |
7 He broke down1 19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew their strongholds
and devastated their towns.
The land and all who were in it
were terrified by his roaring. |
8 Then the nations came against him,
those from regions round about.
They spread their net for him,
and he was trapped in their pit. |
9 With hooks they pulled him into a cage
and brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him in prison,
so his roar was heard no longer
on the mountains of Israel. |
10 " 'Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard2 19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
planted by the water;
it was fruitful and full of branches
because of abundant water. |
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. |
12 But it was uprooted in fury
and thrown to the ground.
The east wind made it shrivel,
it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
and fire consumed them. |
13 Now it is planted in the desert,
in a dry and thirsty land. |
14 Fire spread from one of its main3 19:14 Or from under its branches
and consumed its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
fit for a ruler's scepter.' |