And when they told it to Jotham, he went 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.

When 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.

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’

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.

But 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.’