New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 “Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel
1
You, raise a lament for Israel's princes.
2 and say: “ ‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.
2
Say: What a lioness among lionesses was your mother! She bedded down among the strong young lions and reared her cubs.
3 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.
3
She singled out one of her cubs and he became a strong young lion; he learned to tear flesh and devour humans.
4 The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
4
When the nations heard about him, they caught him in their trap and carried him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5 “ ‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.
5
When she realized that she waited in vain, her hope faded. So she took another of her cubs and set him up as a strong young lion.
6 He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.
6
He went on the prowl with the other lions and became a strong young lion. He learned to tear flesh and devour humans;
7 He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.
7
he ravaged their widows and laid waste to their cities. When the earth and everything in it became horrified by the sound of his raging,
8 Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.
8
the nations from the surrounding regions allied against him. They cast their nets over him and caught him in their trap.
9 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.
9
They put a collar on him and brought him with hooks. They brought him with nets to the king of Babylon so that his voice would no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel.
10 “ ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyardplanted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.
10
Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard planted beside the waters;
11 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.
11
she bore lush fruit and foliage because of the plentiful water, and she produced mighty branches, fit for rulers' scepters. She grew tall, and her crown went up between the clouds. Because of her height and thick growth, she became conspicuous.
12 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.
12
So she was struck down in anger, thrown down to the ground. The east wind dried her out and destroyed her fruit; it sapped the branch of its strength, and fire consumed it.
13 Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.
13
So now she is planted in the desert, in a parched and thirsty land,
14 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.”
14
and fire has gone out from her branch and consumed her foliage and fruit, leaving her no strong branch or ruler's scepter. This is a lamentation, and it will serve as a lamentation.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible