¹Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ²“Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel; ³and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar. ⁴He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, and carried it to a land of traffic. He planted it in a city of merchants. ⁵“‘“He also took some of the seed of the land, and planted it in fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree. ⁶It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him. So it became a vine, produced branches, and shot out sprigs.