9
But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men, And go to sway over trees?'
10
"Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us!'
11
But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?'
12
"Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us!'
13
But the vine said to them, 'Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over trees?'
14
"Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us!'
15
And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of Lebanon!'
16
"Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves--
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for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
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but you have risen up against my father's house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother--
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if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.