8 “The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!’
10 “So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!’
12 “So the trees said to the grapevine, ‘You come and be our king!’
13 But the grapevine said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!’
14 “So all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and be our king!’