Judges 9:8-15

Darby^{(i) 8} The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign over us. ⁹ And the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave over the trees? ¹⁰ And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, reign over us. ¹¹ But the fig-tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees? ¹² Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, reign over us. ¹³ And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees? ¹⁴ Then said all the trees to the thorn-bush, Come thou, reign over us. ¹⁵ And the thorn-bush said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, come, put confidence in my shadow; but if not, fire shall come out of the thorn-bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.