But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story:“ Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree:‘ Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!

以色列王约阿施差遣使者去见犹大王亚玛谢，说：“黎巴嫩的蒺藜差遣使者去见黎巴嫩的香柏树，说：将你的女儿给我儿子为妻。后来黎巴嫩有一只野兽经过，把蒺藜践踏了。

以色列王约阿施派人去见犹大王亚玛谢，说：“黎巴嫩的蒺藜派人去见黎巴嫩的香柏树，说：‘将你的女儿嫁给我的儿子。’但有一只野兽经过黎巴嫩，把蒺藜践踏了。

以色列王约阿施派人去见犹大王亚玛谢，说：“黎巴嫩的蒺藜派人去见黎巴嫩的香柏树，说：‘将你的女儿嫁给我的儿子。’但有一只野兽经过黎巴嫩，把蒺藜践踏了。

以色列王约阿施派人对犹大王亚玛谢说：“黎巴嫩的蒺藜派使者去对黎巴嫩的香柏树说，‘将你女儿嫁给我儿子吧。’后来黎巴嫩的一只野兽经过，把那蒺藜践踏在脚下。

以色列王约阿施派人去见犹大王亚玛谢说：“黎巴嫩的蒺藜派人去见黎巴嫩的香柏树说：‘请你把你的女儿给我的儿子作妻子吧！’后来有黎巴嫩的野兽经过，就把蒺藜踩倒了。

以色列王約阿施差遣使者去見猶大王亞瑪謝，說：「黎巴嫩的蒺藜差遣使者去見黎巴嫩的香柏樹，說：將你的女兒給我兒子為妻。後來黎巴嫩有一個野獸經過，把蒺藜踐踏了。

以色列王約阿施派人去見猶大王亞瑪謝，說：「黎巴嫩的蒺藜派人去見黎巴嫩的香柏樹，說：『將你的女兒嫁給我的兒子。』但有一隻野獸經過黎巴嫩，把蒺藜踐踏了。

以色列王約阿施派人去見猶大王亞瑪謝，說：「黎巴嫩的蒺藜派人去見黎巴嫩的香柏樹，說：『將你的女兒嫁給我的兒子。』但有一隻野獸經過黎巴嫩，把蒺藜踐踏了。

以色列王約阿施派人對猶大王亞瑪謝說：「黎巴嫩的蒺藜派使者去對黎巴嫩的香柏樹說，『將你女兒嫁給我兒子吧。』後來黎巴嫩的一隻野獸經過，把那蒺藜踐踏在腳下。

以色列王約阿施派人去見猶大王亞瑪謝說：“黎巴嫩的蒺藜派人去見黎巴嫩的香柏樹說：‘請你把你的女兒給我的兒子作妻子吧！’後來有黎巴嫩的野獸經過，就把蒺藜踩倒了。

以色列王約阿施就差遣人去見猶大王亞瑪謝，說：『利巴嫩的蒺藜差遣人去見利巴嫩的香柏樹，說：「將你的女兒給我的兒子為妻吧」；後來有一隻利巴嫩的野獸從那裏經過，就把蒺藜踐踏了。

以色列王約阿施、遣使見猶大王亞瑪謝曰、利巴嫩之蒺藜、遣使謂利巴嫩之香柏曰、以爾女妻我子、有利巴嫩之野獸過之、踐其蒺藜、

以色列王約瞎、語使者曰、利巴嫩有荊棘、謂柏香木云、當以爾女妻我子、猝有獸過、荊棘為其蹂躪。

以色列王約阿施遣使見猶大王亞瑪謝曰、利巴嫩之荊棘、遣使謂利巴嫩之柏香木曰、爾以爾女予我子為妻、後利巴嫩之野獸過焉、荊棘為其所蹂躪、

But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah:“ A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon,‘ Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot.

But Jehoash, the king of Israel, answered Amaziah, the king of Judah. Jehoash said,“ A thorn bush in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree there. The thorn bush said,‘ Give your daughter to be married to my son.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon came along. It crushed the thorn bush by walking on it.

And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah,“ A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying,‘ Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.

King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying,“ The thistle in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar in Lebanon, saying,‘ Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

But Jehoash king of Israel sent messengers to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,“ The thorn bush that was in Lebanon sent word to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying,‘ Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush.

And Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,“ The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying,‘ Give your daughter to my son as wife’; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.

King Jehoash of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,“ The thistle that was in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying,‘ Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that[ was] in Lebanon sent to the cedar that[ was] in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that[ was] in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

King Jehoash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah,“ A thornbush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon,‘ Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn.

Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,“ The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying,‘ Give your daughter to my son as wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle.

Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the olive tree,‘ Be our king!’But the olive tree refused, saying,‘ Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’“ Then they said to the fig tree,‘ You be our king!’But the fig tree also refused, saying,‘ Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?’“ Then they said to the grapevine,‘ You be our king!’But the grapevine also refused, saying,‘ Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’“ Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,‘ Come, you be our king!’And the thornbush replied to the trees,‘ If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

Then I said,“ O Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me,‘ He only talks in riddles!’”

The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.

No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story:“ There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir.They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.

So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.

Even if you escape destruction from Assyria, Egypt will conquer you, and Memphis will bury you. Nettles will take over your treasures of silver; thistles will invade your ruined homes.

Like a lily among thistles is my darling among young women.

He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish.

But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story:“ Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree:‘ Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!

A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

Thorns will overrun its palaces; nettles and thistles will grow in its forts. The ruins will become a haunt for jackals and a home for owls.