Ezekiel 19

A Funeral Song for Israel’s Leaders

The Lord said:

1 Ezekiel, sing a funeral song for two of Israel’s leaders:*19.1 two of Israel’s leaders: Probably Jehoahaz (ruled three months in 609 b.c.) and Jehoiachin (ruled three months in 598 b.c.) or Zedekiah (598–586 b.c.).

2 Your mother was a brave lioness

who raised her cubs

among lions.

3 She taught one of them to hunt,

and he learned to eat people.

4 When the nations heard of him,

they trapped him in a pit,

then they used hooks

to drag him to Egypt.

5 His mother waited

for him to return.

But soon she lost all hope

and raised another cub,

who also became fierce.

6 He hunted with other lions

and learned to eat people.

7 He destroyed fortresses*19.7 He destroyed fortresses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

and ruined towns;

his mighty roar

terrified everyone.

8 Nations plotted to kill him,

and people came from all over

to spread out a net

and catch him in a trap.

9 They put him in a cage

and took him to Babylonia.

The lion was locked away,

so that his mighty roar

would never again be heard

on Israel’s hills.

10 Your mother was a vine like you,*19.10 Your mother … like you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

growing near a stream.

There was plenty of water,

so she was filled with branches

and with lots of fruit.

11 Her strong branches

became symbols of authority,

and she was taller

than all other trees—

everyone could see how strong

and healthy she was.

12 But in anger, I pulled her up

by the roots

and threw her to the ground,

where the scorching desert wind

dried out her fruit.

Her strong branches wilted

and burned up.

13 Then she was planted

in a hot, dry desert,

14 where her stem caught fire,

and flames burned

her branches and fruit.

Not one strong branch is left;

she is stripped bare.

This funeral song must be sung with sorrow.