Judges 9:7-16

New Living Translation

“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem!
    Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!
⁸ Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.
    First they said to the olive tree,
    ‘Be our king!’
⁹ 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?’

¹⁰ “Then they said to the fig tree,
    ‘You be our king!’
¹¹ But the fig tree also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit
    just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

¹² “Then they said to the grapevine,
    ‘You be our king!’
¹³ 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?’

¹⁴ “Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,
    ‘Come, you be our king!’
¹⁵ 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.’”