Ezekiel 31

1-18 The Lofty Cedar

1-2a In the 11th year, 3rd month, 1st day, God tells Ezekiel to say to Pharaoh:

2b Who are you like in your greatness?

3-6 You are like Assyria, a cedar of Lebanon – rising above the clouds, nourished by much water, nourishing other trees, giving shelter to birds and shade to animals.

7-9 I made it beautiful, unrivaled, the envy of all the trees of Eden.

10-13 Because it became arrogant in its size, I gave it into the hand of “the prince of the nations,” and he cut it down so that the branches now lie in the rivers and all who were in its shade have left; the birds and animals inhabit its fallen trunk and boughs. Most of the commentators I consulted believe that “the prince of the nations” refers to Nebuchadnezzar.

14 No other nation will grow so lofty [arrogant] but will go to the world below, with mortals who go down to the Pit. Psalm 82:6-7 helps explain the last phrase.

I say, "You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince."

15-17 At its destruction, says God, I covered it over with water, restrained its rivers, clothed Lebanon in gloom, made the nations quake at the sounds of its fall, and all its allies went down with it.

18-20 Who was like you in glory? But you shall be brought down to the world below. This is Pharaoh and his horde, says the Lord GOD.