19Ezekiel 19

A Funeral Song for Israel's Leaders / The said:

1Ezekiel, sing a funeral song for two of Israel's leaders:Select Ezekiel 19:1

2Your mother was a brave lioness who raised her cubs among lions.Select Ezekiel 19:2

3She taught one of them to hunt, and he learned to eat people.Select Ezekiel 19:3

4When the nations heard of him, they trapped him in a pit, then they used hooks to drag him to Egypt.Select Ezekiel 19:4

5His mother waited for him to return. But soon she lost all hope and raised another cub, who also became fierce.Select Ezekiel 19:5

6He hunted with other lions and learned to eat people.Select Ezekiel 19:6

7He destroyed fortresses and ruined towns; his mighty roar terrified everyone.Select Ezekiel 19:7

8Nations plotted to kill him, and people came from all over to spread out a net and catch him in a trap.Select Ezekiel 19:8

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.Select Ezekiel 19:9

10Your mother was a vine like you, growing near a stream. There was plenty of water, so she was filled with branches and with lots of fruit.Select Ezekiel 19:10

11Her strong branches became symbols of authority, and she was taller than all other trees— everyone could see how strong and healthy she was.Select Ezekiel 19:11

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 burned up.Select Ezekiel 19:12

13Then she was planted in a hot, dry desert,Select Ezekiel 19:13

14where her stem caught fire, and flames burned her branches and fruit. Not one strong branch is left; she is stripped bare. This funeral song must be sung with sorrow.Select Ezekiel 19:14