Ezekiel 19:10-14

‘Your mother [Jerusalem] was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and full of branches Because of abundant water. [2 Kin 24:17; Ezek 17:7] ‘And it had strong branches for the scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the thick branches and into the clouds So that it was seen [easily] in its height with the mass of its branches. ‘But the vine was uprooted in [godly] wrath [by His representative] And it was thrown down to the ground; The east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branch was broken off So that it withered; The fire [of God’s judgment] consumed it. ‘And now it is transplanted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land [of Babylon]. ‘And the fire [of Zedekiah’s rebellion] has gone out from its branch; It has consumed the vine’s shoots and fruit, So that it has in it no [longer a] strong branch As a scepter to rule.’ ” This is a dirge (funeral poem to be sung), and has become a dirge.