Ezekiel 19
Expanded Bible
A Sad Song for Israel
19 “Sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] for the ·leaders [princes] of Israel. 2 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.
3 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.
4 The nations heard about him.
He was trapped in their pit,
and they brought him with hooks
to the land of Egypt.
5 “‘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)].
6 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.
7 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.
8 Then the nations came against him
from areas all around,
and they spread their net over him.
He was trapped in their pit.
9 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.”
Ezekiel 19
New American Standard Bible
Song of Mourning for the Leaders of Israel
19 “As for you, take up a (A)song of mourning for the (B)leaders of Israel 2 and say,
‘[a]What was your mother?
A lioness among lions!
She lay down among young lions,
She raised her cubs.
3 When she brought up one of her cubs,
(C)He became a young lion,
And he learned to tear his prey;
He devoured people.
4 Then nations heard about him;
He was caught in their trap,
And they (D)brought him with hooks
To the land of Egypt.
5 When she saw, as she waited,
That her hope was lost,
She took [b]another of her cubs
And made (E)him a young lion.
6 And he (F)walked about among the lions,
He became a young lion;
He learned to tear his prey;
He devoured people.
7 He [c]destroyed their [d]palaces
And laid waste their cities;
And the land and its fullness were appalled
Because of the sound of his roaring.
8 Then (G)nations set against him
On every side from their provinces,
And they spread their net over him;
He was caught in their trap.
9 (H)They put him in a [e]wooden collar with hooks
And (I)brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in hunting nets
So that his voice would no longer be heard
On the mountains of Israel.
10 Your mother was (J)like a vine in your [f]vineyard,
Planted by the waters;
It was fruitful and thick with branches
Because of abundant waters.
11 And it had [g](K)strong stems fit for scepters of rulers,
And its (L)height was raised above the clouds
So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.
12 But it was (M)uprooted in fury;
It was (N)thrown down to the ground;
And the (O)east wind dried up its fruit.
[h]Its (P)strong stem [i]was torn out
So that [j]it withered;
The fire consumed it.
13 And now it is planted in the (Q)wilderness,
In a dry and thirsty land.
14 And (R)fire has gone out from its stem;
It has consumed its shoots and fruit,
So that there is no [k]strong stem in it,
A scepter to rule.’”
This is a song of mourning, and has become a song of mourning.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 19:2 Or Why did your mother, a lioness, lie down among lions; among young lions rear her cubs?
- Ezekiel 19:5 Lit one
- Ezekiel 19:7 As in Targum; MT knew
- Ezekiel 19:7 Or widows
- Ezekiel 19:9 Or iron
- Ezekiel 19:10 As in some mss; MT blood
- Ezekiel 19:11 Lit stems of strength
- Ezekiel 19:12 Lit The stem of her strength
- Ezekiel 19:12 As in LXX; MT were
- Ezekiel 19:12 As in LXX; MT they
- Ezekiel 19:14 Lit stem of strength
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
