8 Once upon a time the trees went out to choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9 The olive tree answered, ‘In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and human beings.’
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’
11 But the fig tree answered, ‘In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit.’
12 So the trees then said to the grapevine, ‘You come and be our king.’
13 But the vine answered, ‘In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my wine, that makes gods and human beings happy.’
14 So then all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’