A funeral song for Israel's leaders

The LORD said:

1Ezekiel, sing a funeral song for two of Israel's leaders:19.1 two of Israel's leaders: Probably Jehoahaz (ruled three months in 609 BC) and Jehoiachin (ruled three months in 598 BC) or Zedekiah (598-586 BC).

2Your mother was a brave lioness

who raised her cubs

among lions.

3She taught one of them to hunt,

and he learnt to eat people.

4When the nations heard of him,

they trapped him in a pit,

then they used hooks

to drag him to Egypt.

5His mother waited

for him to return.

But soon she lost all hope

and raised another cub,

who also became fierce.

6He hunted with other lions

and learnt to eat people.

7He destroyed fortresses19.7 He destroyed fortresses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

and ruined towns;

his mighty roar

terrified everyone.

8Nations plotted to kill him,

and people came from everywhere

to spread out a net

and catch him in a trap.

9They put him in a cage

and took him to Babylonia.

The lion was locked away,

so that his mighty roar

would never again be heard

on Israel's hills.

10Your mother was a vine19.10 Your mother was a vine: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

growing near a stream.

There was plenty of water,

so she was filled with branches

and with lots of fruit.

11Her strong branches

became symbols of authority,

and she was taller

than all other trees—

everyone could see how strong

and healthy she was.

12But in anger, I pulled her up

by the roots

and threw her to the ground,

where the scorching desert wind

dried out her fruit.

Her strong branches wilted

and burnt up.

13Then she was planted

in a hot, dry desert,

14where her stem caught fire,

and flames burnt

her branches and fruit.

Not one strong branch is left;

she is stripped bare.

This funeral song must be sung with sorrow.