^{8 Ref} 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 Ref} But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

¹⁰ And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

^{11 Ref} But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

¹² And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

^{13 Ref} And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

^{14 Ref} Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

^{15 Ref} And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

^{16 Ref} Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

^{17 Ref} (for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

^{18 Ref} 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 maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);

^{19 Ref} if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

^{20 Ref} but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.