Ezekiel

⁸In a good field, by abundant waters, it was planted to grow branches, bear fruit, and become a beautiful vine. ⁹“‘Say to them: This is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘Will it prosper? Will he not rip out its rootsand cause its fruit to rot and wither?All its foliage will wither. No strong arm or large armywill be needed to pull it out by its roots. ¹⁰Consider! It is planted, but will it prosper? Will it not wither completely when the east wind blows on it? Will it not wither in the soil where it sprouted?’” ¹¹Then the word of the Lord came to me: ¹²“Say to the rebellious house of Israel: ‘Don’t you know what these things mean?’ Say: ‘See here, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took her king and her officials prisoner and brought them to himself in Babylon. ¹³He took one from the royal family, made a treaty with him, and put him under oath. He then took the leaders of the land ¹⁴so it would be a lowly kingdom which could not rise on its own but must keep its treaty with him in order to stand.