1“Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel
2and say:“ ‘What a lioness was your motheramong the lions!She lay down among themand reared her cubs.
3She brought up one of her cubs,and he became a strong lion.He learned to tear the preyand he became a man-eater.
4The nations heard about him,and he was trapped in their pit.They led him with hooksto the land of Egypt.
5“ ‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,her expectation gone,she took another of her cubsand made him a strong lion.
6He prowled among the lions,for he was now a strong lion.He learned to tear the preyand he became a man-eater.
7He broke down their strongholdsand devastated their towns.The land and all who were in itwere terrified by his roaring.
8Then the nations came against him,those from regions round about.They spread their net for him,and he was trapped in their pit.
9With hooks they pulled him into a cageand brought him to the king of Babylon.They put him in prison,so his roar was heard no longeron the mountains of Israel.
10“ ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyardplanted by the water;it was fruitful and full of branchesbecause of abundant water.
11Its branches were strong,fit for a ruler’s scepter.It towered highabove the thick foliage,conspicuous for its heightand for its many branches.
12But it was uprooted in furyand thrown to the ground.The east wind made it shrivel,it was stripped of its fruit;its strong branches witheredand fire consumed them.
13Now it is planted in the desert,in a dry and thirsty land.
14Fire spread from one of its main branchesand consumed its fruit.No strong branch is left on itfit for a ruler’s scepter.’This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.”