“‘What a lioness^(C) was your mother
    among the lions!
She lay down among them
    and reared her cubs.^(D)
3 She brought up one of her cubs,
    and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.
⁴ The nations heard about him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks^(E)
    to the land of Egypt.^(F)

⁵ “‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
    her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs^(G)
    and made him a strong lion.^(H)
6 He prowled among the lions,
    for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.^(I)
7 He broke down^[a] their strongholds
    and devastated^(J) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
    were terrified by his roaring.
⁸ Then the nations^(K) came against him,
    those from regions round about.
They spread their net^(L) for him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.^(M)
9 With hooks^(N) they pulled him into a cage
    and brought him to the king of Babylon.^(O)
They put him in prison,
    so his roar^(P) was heard no longer
    on the mountains of Israel.^(Q)

¹⁰ “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard^[b](R)
    planted by the water;^(S)
it was fruitful and full of branches
    because of abundant water.^(T)
11 Its branches were strong,
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.
It towered high
    above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
    and for its many branches.^(U)
12 But it was uprooted^(V) in fury
    and thrown to the ground.
The east wind^(W) made it shrivel,
    it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
    and fire consumed them.^(X)
13 Now it is planted in the desert,^(Y)
    in a dry and thirsty land.^(Z)
14 Fire spread from one of its main^[c] branches
    and consumed^(AA) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.’^(AB)

² I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.^(F)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,^(G)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^[c](H)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.^(I)

⁴ I am in the midst of lions;^(J)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.^(K)

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.^(L)

⁶ They spread a net for my feet^(M)—
    I was bowed down^(N) in distress.
They dug a pit^(O) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.^(P)

⁷ My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;^(Q)
    I will sing and make music.
⁸ Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!^(R)
    I will awaken the dawn.

⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.^(S)

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;^(T)
    let your glory be over all the earth.^(U)