Lament for the Princes of Israel

1“And you, sing a lament for the princes of Israel, 2and say:

“‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions!

She lay among young lions; she reared her cubs.

3She reared one of her cubs; he became a young lion.

He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.

4The nations heard about him; he was trapped in their pit.

They brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

5“‘When she realized that she waited in vain, her hope was lost.

She took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.

6He walked about among the lions; he became a young lion.

He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.

7He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities.

The land and everything in it was frightened at the sound of his roaring.

8The nations – the surrounding regions – attacked him.

They threw their net over him; he was caught in their pit.

9They put him in a collar with hooks;

they brought him to the king of Babylon;

they brought him to prison

so that his voice would not be heard

any longer on the mountains of Israel.

10“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by water.

It was fruitful and full of branches because it was well-watered.

11Its boughs were strong, fit for rulers’ scepters; it reached up into the clouds.

It stood out because of its height and its many branches.

12But it was plucked up in anger; it was thrown down to the ground.

The east wind dried up its fruit;

its strong branches broke off and withered –

a fire consumed them.

13Now it is planted in the wilderness,

in a dry and thirsty land.

14A fire has gone out from its branch; it has consumed its shoot and its fruit.

No strong branch was left in it, nor a scepter to rule.’

This is a lament song, and has become a lament song.”