Ezekiel 17:1-5

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Son of man, ask a riddle and present a parable to the house of Israel,

saying, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “A great eagle with great wings, long pinions, and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders.

He also took from the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil, a meadow beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow.