无花果树回答说，我岂肯止住所结甜美的果子，飘摇在众树之上呢。
But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
树木对葡萄树说，请你来作我们的王。
Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
葡萄树回答说，我岂肯止住使神和人喜乐的新酒，飘摇在众树之上呢。
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
众树对荆棘说，请你来作我们的王。
Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
从前我父冒死为你们争战，救了你们脱离米甸人的手。
(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
你们如今起来攻击我的父家，将他众子七十人杀在一块磐石上，又立他婢女所生的儿子亚比米勒为示剑人的王。他原是你们的弟兄。
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;)
不然，愿火从亚比米勒发出，烧灭示剑人和米罗众人，又愿火从示剑人和米罗人中出来，烧灭亚比米勒。
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.
约坦因怕他弟兄亚比米勒，就逃跑，来到比珥，住在那里。
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
神使恶魔降在亚比米勒和示剑人中间，示剑人就以诡诈待亚比米勒。
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
这是要叫耶路巴力七十个儿子所受的残害归与他们的哥哥亚比米勒，又叫那流他们血的罪归与帮助他杀弟兄的示剑人。
That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.