1. Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
2. "Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel,
3. saying, 'Thus says the Lord God, "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.
4. He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders.