7When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
8One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
10Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
12Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
14Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’