A great eagle with powerful wings, with long feathers, and covered with multicolored plumes, came to Lebanon. He took the tip of a cedar. ⁴ He plucked off the newest shoot at the very top of the tree, and he carried it to a land of merchants. In a city of traders he planted it.

⁵ Then he took seed from the land and planted it in a fertile field, like a new plant beside plentiful water. He set it out like a willow twig, ⁶ so that it would sprout and become a spreading vine, low to the ground, so that its branches would turn toward the one who planted it^[a] and its roots would remain under him. So it became a vine and produced shoots and leaves and branches.

⁷ But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and many plumes. Look at how this vine bent its roots toward him! From the bed where it had been planted, it stretched out its branches toward him, so that he could water it. ⁸ It had been planted in good soil beside plentiful water to grow branches, to bear fruit, and to become a magnificent vine.

⁹ Tell them this is what the Lord God says. Will it thrive? Won’t he pull up its roots and strip off its fruit so that it dries up? Won’t all its new growth dry up? No strong arm or mighty army will be needed to pluck it by its roots. ¹⁰ Although it has been planted, will it thrive? When the east wind touches it, won’t it shrivel up completely? On the very bed where it had sprouted, it will wither away.