But angry hands pulled it up by the roots and threw it to the ground. The east wind dried up its fruit. Its branches were broken off; they dried up and were burned.

The stem of the vine caught fire; fire burned up its branches and fruit. The branches will never again be strong, will never be royal scepters. This is a song of sorrow; it has been sung again and again.

It is sharpened to kill, polished to flash like lightning. There can be no rejoicing, for my people have disregarded every warning and punishment.

I am testing my people, and if they refuse to repent, all these things will happen to them.

Judah will hold the royal scepter, And his descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute And bow in obedience before him.

They will have abundant rainfall And plant their seed in well-watered fields. Their king shall be greater than Agag, And his rule shall be extended far and wide.

The nation is like a mighty lion; When it is sleeping, no one dares wake it. Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, And whoever curses Israel will be cursed."

Powerful kings have reigned there and have ruled over the entire province of West-of-Euphrates, collecting taxes and revenue.

"They answered, 'We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple which was originally built and equipped many years ago by a powerful king of Israel.

Ask, and I will give you all the nations; the whole earth will be yours.

You will break them with an iron rod; you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.' "

Come and save this grapevine that you planted, this young vine you made grow so strong!

Preserve and protect the people you have chosen, the nation you made so strong.

From Zion the LORD will extend your royal power. "Rule over your enemies," he says.

The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants.

You are like a cedar in Lebanon, With beautiful, shady branches, A tree so tall it reaches the clouds.

It grew bigger and bigger until it reached the sky and could be seen by everyone in the world.

The tree, so tall that it reached the sky, could be seen by everyone in the world.

Its leaves were beautiful, and it had enough fruit on it to feed the whole world. Wild animals rested under it, and birds made their nests in its branches.