I gave it many branches. They made it beautiful. All the trees in my Garden of Eden were jealous of it.’ ”

我使它的枝条蕃多，成为荣美，以致神伊甸园中的树都嫉妒它。”

我使它枝条繁多，极为荣美；在上帝的园中，伊甸所有的树都嫉妒它。”

我使它枝条繁多，极为荣美；在神的园中，伊甸所有的树都嫉妒它。”

我使它枝繁叶茂，美丽无比，以致上帝伊甸园里的树木都羡慕它。’

我使它因枝条繁多而显得秀美，以致在神的园中，伊甸所有的树木都嫉妒它。

我使它的枝條蕃多，成為榮美，以致神伊甸園中的樹都嫉妒它。」

我使它枝條繁多，極為榮美；在上帝的園中，伊甸所有的樹都嫉妒它。」

我使它枝條繁多，極為榮美；在神的園中，伊甸所有的樹都嫉妒它。」

我使它枝繁葉茂，美麗無比，以致上帝伊甸園裡的樹木都羡慕它。』

我使它因枝條繁多而顯得秀美，以致在神的園中，伊甸所有的樹木都嫉妒它。

我以其枝條之茂盛而使它美麗，以致上帝園中伊甸的眾樹都羨慕它。

我使其枝繁盛、因而榮美、致上帝囿伊甸諸木、咸嫉妒之、

枝葉向榮、葱蒨可悅、我使之然、上帝囿中諸木、亦嫉其高、

我使其柯條繁多、甚為榮美、天主園中、一切伊甸樹木、無不嫉之、

I made it beautiful with abundant branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden in the garden of God.

I made it beautiful in the mass of its branches, and all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God.

Because I made this tree so beautiful, and gave it such magnificent foliage, it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden, the garden of God.

I made it beautiful with its many limbs, and all the trees of Eden, which were in God’s garden, envied it.

I made it beautiful with the multitude of its branches, And all the trees of Eden, which were in the garden of God, were jealous of it.

I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches, So that all the trees of Eden envied it, That were in the garden of God.’

I made it fair by the multitude of its branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied it.

I made it beautiful with its many limbs, and all the trees of Eden, which were in God’s garden, envied it.

I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that[ were] in the garden of God, envied him.

I made it beautiful with its many branches; all the trees of Eden, in the garden of God, envied it.

I made it beautiful by the multitude of its branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied it.’

You can be sure that I will comfort Zion’s people. I will look with loving concern on all their destroyed buildings. I will make their deserts like Eden. I will make their dry and empty land like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be there. People will sing and give thanks to me.

You were in Eden. It was my garden. All kinds of jewels decorated you. Here is a list of them: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made out of gold. On the day you were created, they were prepared.

Lot looked around. He saw that the whole Jordan River valley toward the town of Zoar had plenty of water. It was like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

I brought the cedar tree down to the place of the dead. It joined the other nations that go down there. I made the nations on earth shake because of the sound of its fall. Then all the trees of Eden were comforted in the earth below. That included the finest and best trees in Lebanon. And it included all the trees that received plenty of water.

He changes times and seasons. He removes some kings from power. He causes other kings to rule. The wisdom of those who are wise comes from him. He gives knowledge to those who have understanding.

When Saul saw how successful David was, he became afraid of him.

Anger is mean, and great anger overpowers you. But who can face jealousy?

His brothers were jealous of him. But his father kept the dreams in mind.

Don’t you know what Scripture says? God wants the spirit in us to belong only to him. God caused this spirit to live in us. Don’t you think Scripture has a reason for saying this?But God continues to give us more grace. That’s why Scripture says,“ God opposes those who are proud. But he gives grace to those who are humble.”( Proverbs 3:34)

The Lord God had planted a garden in the east in Eden. He put in the garden the man he had formed.The Lord God made every kind of tree grow out of the ground. The trees were pleasing to look at. Their fruit was good to eat. There were two trees in the middle of the garden. One of them had fruit that let people live forever. The other had fruit that let people tell the difference between good and evil.

You were so beautiful that your fame spread among the nations. The glory I had given you made your beauty perfect,” announces the Lord and King.

But his heart became very stubborn and proud. So he was removed from his royal throne. His glory was stripped away from him.He was driven away from people. He was given the mind of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys. He ate grass just as an ox does. His body became wet with the dew of heaven. He stayed that way until he recognized that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He puts anyone he wants to in charge of them.“ But you knew all that, Belshazzar. After all, you are Nebuchadnezzar’s son. In spite of that, you are still proud.You have taken your stand against the Lord of heaven. You had your servants bring cups from his temple to you. You and your nobles drank wine from them. So did your wives and concubines. You praised your gods. The statues of those gods are made out of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood or stone. They can’t see or hear or understand anything. But you didn’t honor God. He holds in his hand your very life and everything you do.

He had many flocks and herds and servants. Isaac had so much that the Philistines became jealous of him.

“ My people, you will go out of Babylon with joy. You will be led out of it in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song as you go. And all the trees in the fields will clap their hands.

“ Which one of the trees of Eden can be compared with you? What tree is as glorious and majestic as you are? But you too will be brought down to the earth below. There you will join the trees of Eden. You will lie down with those who have not been circumcised. You will be among those who were killed by swords.“ That is what will happen to Pharaoh and his huge armies,” announces the Lord and King.

Juniper trees, cry out! The cedar trees have fallen down. The majestic trees are destroyed. Cry out, you oak trees of Bashan! The thick forest has been cut down.

Let the fields and everything in them be glad. Let all the trees in the forest sing for joy.Let all creation be full of joy in front of the Lord, because he is coming to judge the earth. He will faithfully judge the people of the world in keeping with what is right.

Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky. Your rule has spread to all parts of the earth.“ Your Majesty, you saw a holy one. He was a messenger. He came down from heaven. He said,‘ Cut down the tree. Destroy it. But leave the stump with its roots in the ground. Let it stay in the field. Put an iron and bronze band around it. Let King Nebuchadnezzar become wet with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the wild animals. Let him stay that way until seven periods of time pass by.’“ Your Majesty, here is what your dream means. The Most High God has given an order against you.You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass just as an ox does. You will become wet with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass by for you. Then you will recognize that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants.

But I had a special reason for making you king. I decided to show you my power. I wanted my name to become known everywhere on earth.

King Nebuchadnezzar, you are the greatest king of all. The God of heaven has given you authority and power. He has given you might and glory.He has put everyone under your control. He has also given you authority over the wild animals and the birds in the sky. It doesn’t matter where they live. He has made you ruler over all of them. You are that head of gold.

All the trees in the forest will know that I bring down tall trees. I make short trees grow tall. I dry up green trees. And I make dry trees green.”“‘ I have spoken. I will do this. I am the Lord.’ ”

One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to an olive tree,‘ Be our king.’“ But the olive tree answered,‘ Should I give up my olive oil? It’s used to honor gods and people alike. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?’“ Next, the trees said to a fig tree,‘ Come and be our king.’“ But the fig tree replied,‘ Should I give up my fruit? It’s so good and sweet. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?’“ Then the trees said to a vine,‘ Come and be our king.’“ But the vine answered,‘ Should I give up my wine? It cheers up gods and people alike. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?’“ Finally, all the trees spoke to a bush that had thorns. They said,‘ Come and be our king.’“ The bush asked the trees,‘ Do you really want to anoint me as king over you? If you do, come and rest in my shade. But if you don’t, I will destroy you! Fire will come out of me and burn up the cedar trees of Lebanon!’“ Did you act in an honest way when you made Abimelek your king? Did you really do the right thing? Have you been fair to Jerub- Baal and his family? Have you given him the honor he’s worthy of?Remember that my father fought for you. He put his life in danger for you. He saved you from the power of Midian.But today you have turned against my father’s family. You have murdered his 70 sons on a big rock. Abimelek is only the son of my father’s female slave. But you have made him king over the citizens of Shechem. You have done that because he’s related to you.Have you citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo acted in an honest way toward Jerub- Baal? Have you done the right thing to his family today? If you have, may you be happy with Abimelek! And may he be happy with you!But if you haven’t, let fire come out from Abimelek and burn you up! And let fire come out from you and burn Abimelek up!”

No one from east or west or north or south can judge themselves.God is the one who judges. He says to one person,“ You are guilty.” To another he says,“ You are not guilty.”

“‘ The Lord and King says,“ I myself will get a twig from the very top of a cedar tree and plant it. I will break off the highest twig. I will plant it on a very high mountain.

I also saw that a person works hard and accomplishes a lot. But they do it only because they want what another person has. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.