A Song of Sadness About Israel’s Princes
1“Sing a song of sadness about Israel’s princes. 2Say to Israel,
“ ‘You were like a mother lion to your princes.
She lay down among the lions.
She brought up her cubs.
3One of them was Jehoahaz.
He became a strong lion.
He learned to tear apart what he caught.
And he became a man-eater.
4The nations heard about him.
They trapped him in their pit.
They put hooks in his face.
And they led him away to Egypt.
5“ ‘The mother lion looked and waited.
But all her hope was gone.
So she got another one of her cubs.
She made him into a strong lion.
6He prowled with the lions.
He became very strong.
He learned to tear apart what he caught.
And he became a man-eater.
7He broke down their forts.
He completely destroyed their towns.
The land and all those who were in it
were terrified when he roared.
8Then nations came against him.
They came from all around him.
They spread out their net to catch him.
He was trapped in their pit.
9They used hooks to pull him into a cage.
They brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him in prison.
So his roar was not heard anymore
on the mountains of Israel.
10“ ‘Israel, you were like a vine in a vineyard.
It was planted near water.
It had a lot of fruit and many branches.
There was plenty of water.
11Its branches were strong.
Each was good enough to be made into a ruler’s scepter.
The vine grew high
above all the leaves.
It stood out because it was so tall
and had so many branches.
12But Nebuchadnezzar became angry.
He pulled it up by its roots.
He threw it to the ground.
The east wind dried it up.
Its fruit was stripped off.
Its strong branches dried up.
And fire destroyed them.
13Now it is planted in the Babylonian desert.
It is in a dry and thirsty land.
14One of its main branches was Zedekiah.
Fire spread from it and burned up its fruit.
None of its branches is good enough
to be made into a ruler’s scepter.’
This is a song of sadness. And that is how it should be used.”
A lament over Israel’s princes
1‘Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel 2and say:
‘ “What a lioness was your mother
among the lions!
She lay down among them
and reared her cubs.
3She brought up one of her cubs,
and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he became a man-eater.
4The nations heard about him,
and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks
to the land of Egypt.
5‘ “When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs
and made him a strong lion.
6He prowled among the lions,
for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he became a man-eater.
7He broke down19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew their strongholds
and devastated their towns.
The land and all who were in it
were terrified by his roaring.
8Then the nations came against him,
those from regions round about.
They spread their net for him,
and he was trapped in their pit.
9With hooks they pulled him into a cage
and brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him in prison,
so his roar was heard no longer
on the mountains of Israel.
10‘ “Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
planted by the water;
it was fruitful and full of branches
because of abundant water.
11Its branches were strong,
fit for a ruler’s sceptre.
It towered high
above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
and for its many branches.
12But it was uprooted in fury
and thrown to the ground.
The east wind made it shrivel,
it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
and fire consumed them.
13Now it is planted in the desert,
in a dry and thirsty land.
14Fire spread from one of its main19:14 Or from under its branches
and consumed its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
fit for a ruler’s sceptre.”
This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.’
