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The word of the LORD came to me:
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"Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak an allegory to the house of Israel;
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say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar;
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he broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade, and set it in a city of merchants.
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Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it beside abundant waters. He set it like a willow twig,
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and it sprouted and became a low spreading vine, and its branches turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine, and brought forth branches and put forth foliage.
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"But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him that he might water it. From the bed where it was planted
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he transplanted it to good soil by abundant waters, that it might bring forth branches, and bear fruit, and become a noble vine.
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Say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its branches, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots.
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Behold, when it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it--wither away on the bed where it grew?"