5 “When the lioness sawthat her hopes for him were gone,she took another of her cubsand taught him to be a strong young lion.
6 He prowled among the other lionsand stood out among them in his strength.He learned to hunt and devour prey,and he, too, became a man-eater.
7 He demolished fortressesand destroyed their towns and cities.Their farms were desolated,and their crops were destroyed.The land and its people trembled in fearwhen they heard him roar.
8 Then the armies of the nations attacked him,surrounding him from every direction.They threw a net over himand captured him in their pit.
9 With hooks, they dragged him into a cageand brought him before the king of Babylon.They held him in captivity,so his voice could never again be heardon the mountains of Israel.
10 “Your mother was like a vineplanted by the water’s edge.It had lush, green foliagebecause of the abundant water.
11 Its branches became strong—strong enough to be a ruler’s scepter.It grew very tall,towering above all others.It stood out because of its heightand its many lush branches.