1. The Lord said:
2. Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Israel the following story,
3. so they will understand what I am saying to them:A large eagle with strong wings and beautiful feathers once flew to Lebanon. It broke the top branch off a cedar tree,
4. then carried it to a nation of merchants and left it in one of their cities.
5. The eagle also took seed from Israel and planted it in a fertile field with plenty of water, like a willow tree beside a stream.
22-23. Some day, I, the Lord,will cut a tender twigfrom the top of a cedar tree,then plant it on the peakof Israel's tallest mountain,where it will growstrong branchesand produce large fruit.All kinds of birds will findshelter under the tree,and they will rest in the shadeof its branches.