A Song of Lament
Ezekiel 19, verse 1. “As for you, son of man, take up a lamentation for the prince of Israel. Ezekiel 19, verse 2. You shall say, ‘Why did your mother became a young lion in the midst of lions? Among the lions she multiplied her young lions. Ezekiel 19, verse 3. Then one of her young lions leaped off. He became a lion, and learned to catch prey—he devoured men. Ezekiel 19, verse 4. The nations also heard of him. He was taken in their pit, and they brought him in a muzzle to the land of Egypt. Ezekiel 19, verse 5. So she saw he was driven away from her, and her assurance perished. ‘Then she took another of her young lions and made him a lion. Ezekiel 19, verse 6. He lived among the lions and became a lion. He learned to catch prey—he devoured men. Ezekiel 19, verse 7. He prowled in his boldness, laid waste their cities, and destroyed the land with its fullness by the noise of his roaring. Ezekiel 19, verse 8. Then the nations came against him from the countries all around, and spread their nets over him. He was taken in their pit. Ezekiel 19, verse 9. They put him in a muzzle, and he came to the king of Babylon in a cage for wild animals. So they led him into a prison so his voice would not be heard on the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel 19, verse 10. ‘Your mother was like a vine, like a blossom on a pomegranate tree, planted in water. Her fruit and branches grew because of much water. Ezekiel 19, verse 11. She became a rod of strength for a tribe of leaders. She was exalted in her greatness in the midst of the stems, and saw her greatness in the multitude of her branches. Ezekiel 19, verse 12. But she was broken to pieces in anger, for she was thrown down on the ground, and the wind and burning heat dried her chosen branches. She was punished, and the rod of her strength withered—fire consumed it. Ezekiel 19, verse 13. So now they have planted her in the desert, in a waterless land. Ezekiel 19, verse 14. Fire went out from the rod of her chosen branches and devoured her. There was no rod of strength in her. Her tribe is a parable of lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation.’”