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17The word of the Lord came to me: ²O mortal, propound a riddle, and speak an allegory to the house of Israel. ³Say: Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle, with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to the Lebanon. He took the top of the cedar, ⁴broke off its topmost shoot; He carried it to a land of trade, set it in a city of merchants. ⁵Then he took a seed from the land, placed it in fertile soil; A plant by abundant waters, he set it like a willow twig. ⁶It sprouted and became a vine spreading out, but low; Its branches turned toward him, its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine; it brought forth branches, put forth foliage. ⁷There was another great eagle, with great wings and much plumage. And see! This vine stretched out its roots toward him; It shot out its branches toward him, so that he might water it. From the bed where it was planted ⁸it was transplanted to good soil by abundant waters, so that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine. ⁹Say: Thus says the Lord God: Will it prosper? Will he not pull up its roots, cause its fruit to rot and wither, its fresh sprouting leaves to fade? No strong arm or mighty army will be needed to pull it from its roots. ¹⁰When it is transplanted, will it thrive? When the east wind strikes it, will it not utterly wither, wither on the bed where it grew?