Judges 9:7-19

Judges 9:7-19

[7] And when they told  it to Jotham,  and stood  in the top  of mount  Gerizim,  and lifted up  his voice,  and cried,  and said  unto them, Hearken  unto me, ye men  of Shechem,  that God  may hearken  unto you. [8] The trees  went forth  on a time to anoint  a king  over them; and they said  unto the olive tree,  Reign  thou over us. [9] But the olive tree  said  unto them, Should I leave  my fatness,  wherewith by me they honour  God  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [10] And the trees  said  to the fig tree,  thou, and reign  [11] But the fig tree  said  unto them, Should I forsake  my sweetness,  and my good  fruit,  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [12] Then said  the trees  unto the vine,  thou, and reign  over us. [13] And the vine  said  unto them, Should I leave  my wine,  which cheereth  God  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [14] Then said  all the trees  unto the bramble,  thou, and reign  [15] And the bramble  said  unto the trees,  If in truth  ye anoint  me king  over you, then come  and put your trust  in my shadow:  and if not, let fire  come out  of the bramble,  and devour  the cedars  of Lebanon.  [16] Now therefore, if ye have done  truly  and sincerely,  in that ye have made Abimelech  king,  and if ye have dealt  with Jerubbaal  and his house,  and have done  unto him according to the deserving  of his hands;  [17] (For my father  fought  for you, and adventured  his life  far,  and delivered  you out of the hand  of Midian:  [18] And ye are risen up  against my father's  house  this day,  and have slain  his sons,  threescore and ten  persons,  upon one  stone,  and have made Abimelech,  the son  of his maidservant,  king  over the men  of Shechem,  because he is your brother;)  [19] If ye then have dealt  truly  and sincerely  with Jerubbaal  and with his house  this day,  then rejoice  ye in Abimelech,  and let him also rejoice  in you: