2 Chronicles 25:18

16 While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

19 You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

20 But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.
KJV
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
WEB
Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as his wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.
ASV
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.
DARBY
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thorn-bush that is in Lebanon sent to the cedar that is in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son as wife; and there passed by the wild beast that is in Lebanon, and trode down the thorn-bush.
BLB
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that [was] in Lebanon sent to the cedar that [was] in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife.’ And passed by a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon, and trampled the thistle.
ÅB
Men Israels konge Joas sendte bud til Judas konge Amasja og svarte: Tornebusken på Libanon sendte bud til sederen på Libanon og lot si: La min sønn få din datter til hustru! Men de ville dyr på Libanon for fram og trådte tornebusken ned.
OTB
Men Joasj, kongen av Israel, sendte et svar til Amasja, kongen av Juda, og sa: "Tornebusken som var i Libanon sendte bud til sedertreet som var i Libanon, og sa: 'Gi din datter til min sønn i ekteskap.' Men et vilt dyr som var i Libanon, gikk forbi og trampet ned tornebusken.
B1930
Men Israels konge Joas sendte bud til Judas konge Amasja og svarte: Tornebusken på Libanon sendte bud til sederen på Libanon og lot si: La min sønn få din datter til hustru! Men de ville dyr på Libanon for frem og trådte tornebusken ned.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references