Ezekiel 17 New Living Translation (NLT)

A Story of Two Eagles

17 Then this message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel. ³ Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“A great eagle with broad wings and long feathers,
    covered with many-colored plumage,
    came to Lebanon.
He seized the top of a cedar tree
⁴     and plucked off its highest branch.
He carried it away to a city filled with merchants.
    He planted it in a city of traders.
⁵ He also took a seedling from the land
    and planted it in fertile soil.
He placed it beside a broad river,
    where it could grow like a willow tree.
⁶ It took root there and
    grew into a low, spreading vine.
Its branches turned up toward the eagle,
    and its roots grew down into the ground.
It produced strong branches
    and put out shoots.
⁷ But then another great eagle came
    with broad wings and full plumage.
So the vine now sent its roots and branches
    toward him for water,