Judges 9:8-18

8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, "Reign over us.'
9 The olive tree answered them, "Shall I stop producing my rich oil by which gods and mortals are honored, and go to sway over the trees?'
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, "You come and reign over us.'
11 But the fig tree answered them, "Shall I stop producing my sweetness and my delicious fruit, and go to sway over the trees?'
12 Then the trees said to the vine, "You come and reign over us.'
13 But the vine said to them, "Shall I stop producing my wine that cheers gods and mortals, and go to sway over the trees?'
14 So all the trees said to the bramble, "You come and reign over us.'
15 And the bramble said to the trees, "If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
16 "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as his actions deserved—
17 for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian;
18 but you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your kinsman—
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.