2 "Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel,
3 saying, 'Thus says the Lord God, "A great eagle with great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.
4 He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders.
5 He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow.
6 Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches.
7 "But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was planted, that he might water it.
8 It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine."'