Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the olive tree,‘ Be our king!’

有一时，树木要膏一树为王，管理他们，就去对橄榄树说：‘请你作我们的王。’

有一次，树木要膏一王治理他们，就去对橄榄树说：‘请你来作王治理我们！’

有一次，树木要膏一王治理他们，就去对橄榄树说：‘请你来作王治理我们！’

从前，树木要选一个王，它们对橄榄树说，‘你来做我们的王。’

有一次，众树要去膏立一个王统治它们，就对橄榄树说：‘请你作王统治我们吧。’

有一時，樹木要膏一樹為王，管理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：『請你作我們的王。』

有一次，樹木要膏一王治理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：『請你來作王治理我們！』

有一次，樹木要膏一王治理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：『請你來作王治理我們！』

從前，樹木要選一個王，它們對橄欖樹說，『你來做我們的王。』

有一次，眾樹要去膏立一個王統治它們，就對橄欖樹說：‘請你作王統治我們吧。’

有一次、樹木走來走去要膏立一個王來統治他們；就去對橄欖樹說：「請作王來統治我們。」

昔諸樹欲膏一樹為其王、謂橄欖樹曰、請爾治我、

昔諸樹欲膏一樹、立之為王、謂橄欖曰、汝其轄我。

一日諸樹欲為己立立原文作膏王、謂油果樹曰、請爾為我之王、

One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree,‘ Be our king.’

One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to an olive tree,‘ Be our king.’

The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree,‘ Reign over us.’

The trees decided to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree,“ Reign over us.”

Once the trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree,‘ Reign over us!’

“ The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree,‘ Reign over us!’

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive- tree, Reign thou over us.

The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree,“ Reign over us.”

The trees went forth[ on a time] to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

“ The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree,‘ Be our king!’

The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree,‘ Reign over us.’

Then the Israelites said to Gideon,“ Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.”But Gideon replied,“ I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The Lord will rule over you!

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!

“‘ While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth.The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.“‘ Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven.The messenger shouted,“ Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches.But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field.For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human.For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”“‘ Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’

Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord:“ A great eagle with broad wings and long feathers, covered with many colored plumage, came to Lebanon. He seized the top of a cedar treeand plucked off its highest branch. He carried it away to a city filled with merchants. He planted it in a city of traders.He also took a seedling from the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside a broad river, where it could grow like a willow tree.It took root there and grew into a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned up toward the eagle, and its roots grew down into the ground. It produced strong branches and put out shoots.But then another great eagle came with broad wings and full plumage. So the vine now sent its roots and branches toward him for water,even though it was already planted in good soil and had plenty of water so it could grow into a splendid vine and produce rich leaves and luscious fruit.“ So now the Sovereign Lord asks: Will this vine grow and prosper? No! I will pull it up, roots and all! I will cut off its fruit and let its leaves wither and die. I will pull it up easily without a strong arm or a large army.But when the vine is transplanted, will it thrive? No, it will wither away when the east wind blows against it. It will die in the same good soil where it had grown so well.”