¹⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud^(A) of its height, ¹¹ I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,^{(B) 12} and the most ruthless of foreign nations^(C) cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys;^(D) its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.^{(E) 13} All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.^{(F) 14} Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined^(G) for death,^(H) for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.^(I)

¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.^(A)