Ezekiel 19:1-14

Ezekiel 19:1-14 New International Version (NIV)

“Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel and say: “ ‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater. The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt. “ ‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion. He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater. He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring. Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit. With 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. “ ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water. Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches. But 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. Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ “This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.”

Ezekiel 19:1-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

“Sing this funeral song for the princes of Israel: “What is your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs. She raised one of her cubs to become a strong young lion. He learned to hunt and devour prey, and he became a man-eater. Then the nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him away with hooks to the land of Egypt. “When the lioness saw that her hopes for him were gone, she took another of her cubs and taught him to be a strong young lion. He prowled among the other lions and stood out among them in his strength. He learned to hunt and devour prey, and he, too, became a man-eater. He demolished fortresses and destroyed their towns and cities. Their farms were desolated, and their crops were destroyed. The land and its people trembled in fear when they heard him roar. Then the armies of the nations attacked him, surrounding him from every direction. They threw a net over him and captured him in their pit. With hooks, they dragged him into a cage and brought him before the king of Babylon. They held him in captivity, so his voice could never again be heard on the mountains of Israel. “Your mother was like a vine planted by the water’s edge. It had lush, green foliage because of the abundant water. 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 height and its many lush branches. But the vine was uprooted in fury and thrown down to the ground. The desert wind dried up its fruit and tore off its strong branches, so that it withered and was destroyed by fire. Now the vine is transplanted to the wilderness, where the ground is hard and dry. A fire has burst out from its branches and devoured its fruit. Its remaining limbs are not strong enough to be a ruler’s scepter.

Ezekiel 19:1-14 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)

And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say: What was your mother? A lioness! Among lions she crouched; in the midst of young lions she reared her cubs. And she brought up one of her cubs; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men. The nations heard about him; he was caught in their pit, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion. He prowled among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men, and seized their widows. He laid waste their cities, and the land was appalled and all who were in it at the sound of his roaring. Then the nations set against him from provinces on every side; they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit. With hooks they put him in a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into custody, that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel. Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water. Its strong stems became rulers’ scepters; it towered aloft among the thick boughs; it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches. But the vine was plucked up in fury, cast down to the ground; the east wind dried up its fruit; they were stripped off and withered. As for its strong stem, fire consumed it. Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots, has consumed its fruit, so that there remains in it no strong stem, no scepter for ruling.

Ezekiel 19:1-14 The Message (MSG)

Sing the blues over the princes of Israel. Say: What a lioness was your mother among lions! She crouched in a pride of young lions. Her cubs grew large. She reared one of her cubs to maturity, a robust young lion. He learned to hunt. He ate men. Nations sounded the alarm. He was caught in a trap. They took him with hooks and dragged him to Egypt. When the lioness saw she was luckless, that her hope for that cub was gone, She took her other cub and made him a strong young lion. He prowled with the lions, a robust young lion. He learned to hunt. He ate men. He rampaged through their defenses, left their cities in ruins. The country and everyone in it was terrorized by the roars of the lion. The nations got together to hunt him. Everyone joined the hunt. They set out their traps and caught him. They put a wooden collar on him and took him to the king of Babylon. No more would that voice be heard disturbing the peace in the mountains of Israel! Here’s another way to put it: Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard, transplanted alongside streams of water, Luxurious in branches and grapes because of the ample water. It grew sturdy branches fit to be carved into a royal scepter. It grew high, reaching into the clouds. Its branches filled the horizon, and everyone could see it. Then it was ripped up in a rage and thrown to the ground. The hot east wind shriveled it up and stripped its fruit. The sturdy branches dried out, fit for nothing but kindling. Now it’s a stick stuck out in the desert, a bare stick in a desert of death, Good for nothing but making fires, campfires in the desert. Not a hint now of those sturdy branches fit for use as a royal scepter!

Ezekiel 19:1-14 King James Version (KJV)

Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit. And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches. But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them. And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

Ezekiel 19:1-14 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

“As for you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among young lions, She reared her cubs. When she brought up one of her cubs, He became a lion, And he learned to tear his prey; He devoured men. Then nations heard about him; He was captured in their pit, And they brought him with hooks To the land of Egypt. When she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs And made him a young lion. And he walked about among the lions; He became a young lion, He learned to tear his prey; He devoured men. He destroyed their fortified towers And laid waste their cities; And the land and its fullness were appalled Because of the sound of his roaring. Then nations set against him On every side from their provinces, And they spread their net over him; He was captured in their pit. They put him in a cage with hooks And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in hunting nets So that his voice would be heard no more On the mountains of Israel. Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and full of branches Because of abundant waters. And it had strong branches fit for scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the clouds So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches. But it was plucked up in fury; It was cast down to the ground; And the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branch was torn off So that it withered; The fire consumed it. And now it is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land. And fire has gone out from its branch; It has consumed its shoots and fruit, So that there is not in it a strong branch, A scepter to rule.’ ” This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.

Ezekiel 19:1-14 New Century Version (NCV)

“Sing a funeral song for the leaders of Israel. Say: ‘Your mother was like a female lion. She lay down among the young lions. She had many cubs. When she brought up one of her cubs, he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the animals he hunted, and he ate people. The nations heard about him. He was trapped in their pit, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. “ ‘The mother lion waited and saw that there was no hope for her cub. So she took another one of her cubs and made him a strong lion. This cub roamed among the lions. He was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the animals he hunted, and he ate people. He tore down their strong places and destroyed their cities. The land and everything in it were terrified by the sound of his roar. Then the nations came against him from areas all around, and they spread their net over him. He was trapped in their pit. Then they put him into a cage with chains and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him into prison so his roar could not be heard again on the mountains of Israel. “ ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted beside the water. The vine had many branches and gave much fruit, because there was plenty of water. The vine had strong branches, good enough for a king’s scepter. The vine became tall among the thick branches. And it was seen, because it was tall with many branches. But it was pulled up by its roots in anger and thrown down to the ground. The east wind dried it up. Its fruit was torn off. Its strong branches were broken off and burned up. Now the vine is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire spread from the vine’s main branch, destroying its fruit. There is not a strong branch left on it that could become a scepter for a king.’ This is a funeral song; it is to be used as a funeral song.”

Ezekiel 19:1-14 American Standard Version (ASV)

Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say, What was thy mother? A lioness: she couched among lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelps. And she brought up one of her whelps: he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men. The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks unto the land of Egypt. Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. And he went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men. And he knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, because of the noise of his roaring. Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces; and they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit. And they put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. Thy mother was like a vine, in thy blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. And it had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches. But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit: its strong rods were broken off and withered; the fire consumed them. And now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. And fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it hath devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

Ezekiel 19:1-14 New King James Version (NKJV)

“Moreover take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say: ‘What is your mother? A lioness: She lay down among the lions; Among the young lions she nourished her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, And he became a young lion; He learned to catch prey, And he devoured men. The nations also heard of him; He was trapped in their pit, And they brought him with chains to the land of Egypt. ‘When she saw that she waited, that her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs and made him a young lion. He roved among the lions, And became a young lion; He learned to catch prey; He devoured men. He knew their desolate places, And laid waste their cities; The land with its fullness was desolated By the noise of his roaring. Then the nations set against him from the provinces on every side, And spread their net over him; He was trapped in their pit. They put him in a cage with chains, And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in nets, That his voice should no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel. ‘Your mother was like a vine in your bloodline, Planted by the waters, Fruitful and full of branches Because of many waters. She had strong branches for scepters of rulers. She towered in stature above the thick branches, And was seen in her height amid the dense foliage. But she was plucked up in fury, She was cast down to the ground, And the east wind dried her fruit. Her strong branches were broken and withered; The fire consumed them. And now she is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land. Fire has come out from a rod of her branches And devoured her fruit, So that she has no strong branch— a scepter for ruling.’ ” This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.

Ezekiel 19:1-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

“As for you, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for the princes of Israel and say, ‘What was your mother [Jerusalem and Judah]? A lioness among lions! She lay down among young lions, She reared her cubs. When she [the royal mother-city] brought up [Jehoahaz] one of her cubs, He became a [young] lion, And he learned to catch and tear the prey; He devoured men. The nations heard about him; He was captured in their pit, And they brought him with hooks To the land of Egypt. When she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs And made him a young lion. And he moved among the lions; He became a young lion, He learned to tear the prey; He devoured men. He destroyed their palaces And he flattened their cities; And the land and all who were in it were appalled By the sound of his roaring. Then the nations set against him (the king) On every side from the provinces, And they spread their net over him; He was captured in their pit. They put him in a cage with hooks and chains And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in hunting nets So that his voice would be heard no more On the mountains of Israel. 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. 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.

Ezekiel 19:1-14 The Passion Translation (TPT)

“Now Ezekiel, sing this funeral song to mourn the rulers of Israel, saying, “ ‘What a lioness was your mother among lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs. One of the cubs she raised grew into a young and powerful man-eating lion who learned to hunt and devour his prey. The nations heard about him, and they trapped him in their pit. With hooks they dragged him off to Egypt. When she realized that he was not coming back, she despaired and her hopes were dashed. She chose another of her cubs to take his place and made a powerful lion of him too. He prowled among the pride and grew into a powerful man-eating lion, who learned to hunt and devour his prey. He demolished their strongholds and destroyed their cities. Whenever the lion released his roar, the land and all the people were terrified! The nations marched out against him from all around. They threw their net over him, and he was trapped in their pit. With their hooks they captured him, led him with bands around his neck to the king of Babylon. They threw him into a dungeon so that his roar could never be heard again on the mountains of Israel. “ ‘Your mother was like a grapevine planted beside a stream, with luscious fruit and full of branches, because the water flowed so abundantly. She grew strong branches, and some grew very high, which became royal scepters. The vine grew higher and higher, up into the clouds. Everyone could see her towering height and the vast number of her branches. But disaster struck the vine. Angry, mighty hands pulled it up by its roots and threw it to the ground. The hot east wind dried it up, and her fruit shriveled and fell to the ground. Her strong stem was withered and was consumed by the fire. Now what remains of her has been transplanted to the desert, to a dry and thirsty land. Fire spread from her stem and devoured its fruit. There is not a strong branch left that could become a scepter for a king.’ ”