Dual Panel1“Raise a dirge over the rulers of Israel
2and say: What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She made her lair among the young lions and reared her cubs.
3One of her cubs she singled out; he grew into a young lion, he learnt to tear his prey, he devoured men.
4Then the nations raised a shout at him; he was caught in their pit, and they dragged him off with hooks to Egypt.
5When she saw that her hope in him was disappointed and dashed, she took another of her cubs and made a young lion of him.
6He prowled among the lions and acted like a young lion. He learnt to tear his prey, he devoured men;
7he broke down their palaces, laid their cities in ruins. The land and all in it were aghast at the sound of his roaring.
8From the regions all around the nations raised a hue and cry; they cast their net over him and he was caught in their pit.
9With hooks they drew him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon; he was put in prison that his roar might never again be heard on the mountains of Israel.
10“Your mother was a vine planted by the waterside. It grew fruitful and luxuriant, for there was water in plenty.
11It had stout branches, sceptres for those who bear rule. It grew tall, finding its way through the foliage; it was conspicuous for its height and many boughs.
12But it was torn up in anger and thrown to the ground; the east wind blighted it, its fruit was blown off, its strong branches were blighted, and fire burnt it.
13Now it is transplanted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land;
14fire bursts forth from its own branches and burns up its shoots. It has no strong branch any more, no sceptre for those who bear rule.” This is a lament and it has passed into use as such.