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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Ezekiel 17 New American Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezekiel/17.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/ezekiel/17-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NABRE</a> > Ezekiel 17</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezekiel/16.htm" title="Ezekiel 16">◄</a> Ezekiel 17 <a href="../ezekiel/18.htm" title="Ezekiel 18">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New American Bible Revised Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><section id="ch33017" class="chapter"> <h1 id="cn33017" class="cn"></h1> <p class="pf"><span class="hemb">The Eagles and the Vine.</span> <span id="v33017001" class="ver">1</span>The word of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> came to me: <span id="v33017002" class="ver">2</span>Son of man, propose a riddle, and tell this proverb to the house of Israel: <span id="v33017003" class="ver">3</span>Thus says the Lord <span class="tetr">God</span>:</p> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf">The great eagle, with wide wingspan</p> <p class="sl1">and long feathers, with thick plumage,</p> <p class="sl1">many-hued, came to Lebanon.</p> <p class="sl">He plucked the crest of the cedar,<a id="ren33017003-a" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017003-a">a</a></p> <p class="sl1"><span id="v33017004" class="ver">4</span>broke off its topmost branch,</p> <p class="sl">And brought it to a land of merchants,</p> <p class="sl1">set it in a city of traders.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017005" class="ver">5</span>Then he took some native seed</p> <p class="sl1">and planted it in fertile soil;</p> <p class="sl">A shoot beside plentiful waters,</p> <p class="sl1">like a willow he planted it,<a id="ren33017005-b" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017005-b">b</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017006" class="ver">6</span>That it might sprout and become a vine,</p> <p class="sl1">dense and low-lying,</p> <p class="sl">With its branches turned toward him,</p> <p class="sl1">its roots beneath it.</p> <p class="sl">Thus it became a vine, produced branches,</p> <p class="sl1">and put forth shoots.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017007" class="ver">7</span>Then another great eagle appeared,</p> <p class="sl1">with wide wingspan, rich in plumage,</p> <p class="sl">And see! This vine bent its roots to him,</p> <p class="sl1">sent out branches for him to water.</p> <p class="sl">From the bed where it was planted,<a id="ren33017007-c" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017007-c">c</a></p> <p class="sl1"><span id="v33017008" class="ver">8</span>it was transplanted to a fertile field</p> <p class="sl">By abundant waters, to produce branches,</p> <p class="sl1">to bear fruit, to become a majestic vine.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017009" class="ver">9</span>Say: Thus says the Lord <span class="tetr">God</span>: Can it thrive?</p> <p class="sl">Will he not tear up its roots</p> <p class="sl1">and strip its fruit?</p> <p class="sl">Then all its green leaves will wither—</p> <p class="sl1">neither strong arm nor mighty nation</p> <p class="sl1">is needed to uproot it.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017010" class="ver">10</span>True, it is planted; but will it thrive?</p> <p class="sl1">Will it not wither up</p> <p class="sl">When the east wind strikes it,</p> <p class="sl1l">wither in the very bed where it sprouted?<a id="ren33017010-d" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017010-d">d</a></p> </div> <p><span id="v33017011" class="ver">11</span><a id="rfn33017011-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn33017011-1">*</a> The word of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> came to me:</p> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf"><span id="v33017012" class="ver">12</span>Now say to the rebellious house:</p> <p class="sl1">Do you not understand this? Tell them!</p> <p class="sl">The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem</p> <p class="sl1">and took away its king and officials</p> <p class="sl1">and brought them to him in Babylon.<a id="ren33017012-e" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017012-e">e</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017013" class="ver">13</span>After removing the nobles from the land,</p> <p class="sl1">he then took one of the royal line</p> <p class="sl">And made a covenant with him,</p> <p class="sl1">binding him under oath,<a id="ren33017013-f" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017013-f">f</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017014" class="ver">14</span>To be a humble kingdom,</p> <p class="sl1">without high aspirations,</p> <p class="sl1">to keep his covenant and so survive.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017015" class="ver">15</span>But this one rebelled against him</p> <p class="sl1">by sending envoys to Egypt</p> <p class="sl">To obtain horses and a mighty army.</p> <p class="sl1">Can he thrive?</p> <p class="sl">Can he escape if he does this?</p> <p class="sl1">Can he break a covenant and go free?<a id="ren33017015-g" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017015-g">g</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017016" class="ver">16</span>As I live—oracle of the Lord <span class="tetr">God</span>—</p> <p class="sl1">in the house of the king who set him up to rule,</p> <p class="sl">Whose oath he ignored and whose covenant he broke,</p> <p class="sl1">there in Babylon I swear he shall die!<a id="ren33017016-h" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017016-h">h</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017017" class="ver">17</span>Pharaoh shall not help him on the day of battle,</p> <p class="sl1">with a great force and mighty horde,</p> <p class="sl">When ramps are thrown up and siege works built</p> <p class="sl1">for the cutting down of many lives.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017018" class="ver">18</span>He ignored his oath, breaking his covenant;</p> <p class="sl1">even though he gave his hand, he did all these things—</p> <p class="sl1">he shall not escape!<a id="ren33017018-i" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017018-i">i</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017019" class="ver">19</span>Therefore, thus says the Lord <span class="tetr">God</span>:</p> <p class="sl1">As I live, my oath which he spurned,</p> <p class="sl">And my covenant which he broke,</p> <p class="sl1">I will bring down on his head.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017020" class="ver">20</span>I will spread my net over him,</p> <p class="sl1">and he will be caught in my snare.</p> <p class="sl">I will bring him to Babylon</p> <p class="sl1">to judge him there</p> <p class="sl1">because he broke faith with me.<a id="ren33017020-j" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017020-j">j</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017021" class="ver">21</span>Any among his forces who escape</p> <p class="sl1">will fall by the sword,</p> <p class="sl">And whoever might survive</p> <p class="sl1">will be scattered to the winds.<a id="ren33017021-k" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017021-k">k</a></p> <p class="sl">Thus you will know that I the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> have spoken.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017022" class="ver">22</span>Thus says the Lord <span class="tetr">God</span>:</p> <p class="sl">I, too, will pluck from the crest of the cedar</p> <p class="sl1">the highest branch.</p> <p class="sl">From the top a tender shoot</p> <p class="sl1">I will break off and transplant<a id="rfn33017022-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn33017022-1">*</a></p> <p class="sl1">on a high, lofty mountain.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017023" class="ver">23</span>On the mountain height of Israel</p> <p class="sl1">I will plant it.</p> <p class="sl">It shall put forth branches and bear fruit,</p> <p class="sl1">and become a majestic cedar.</p> <p class="sl">Every small bird will nest under it,</p> <p class="sl1">all kinds of winged birds will dwell</p> <p class="sl1">in the shade of its branches.<a id="ren33017023-l" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017023-l">l</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v33017024" class="ver">24</span>Every tree of the field will know</p> <p class="sl1">that I am the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>.</p> <p class="sl">I bring low the high tree,</p> <p class="sl1">lift high the lowly tree,</p> <p class="sl">Wither up the green tree,</p> <p class="sl1">and make the dry tree bloom.<a id="ren33017024-m" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en33017024-m">m</a></p> <p class="sl">As I, the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>, have spoken, so will I do!</p> </div> </section> <br /><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="intro.htm"><span class="ac">Book Introduction</span></a></h1><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="footnotes.htm"><span class="ac">Footnotes</span></a></h1></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the <i>New American Bible, revised edition</i> © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. 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