以西結書 15

1 上主的話傳給我說：「

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 人子，樹林中這棵葡萄樹，到底有什麼超越其他一切樹木之處﹖

“Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest?

3 豈能取它的木材製造用具，或者能取出它一根枝條，在上面懸掛器具﹖

Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?

4 只有投入火中焚燒；火焚燒了它的兩端，中間也在焚燒；它還能有什麼用途﹖

No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?

5 當它完整時，還不能作什麼用具，何況經火燃燒焚化之後，豈不是更不能製造什麼用具﹖

Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!

6 為此，吾主上主這樣說：我怎樣把樹林中的葡萄樹投入火中焚燒，也必怎樣對待耶路撒冷的居民。

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the people of Jerusalem.

7 我要翻臉打擊他們：他們雖從火中逃出來，仍要為火焚燒。當我翻臉打擊他們時，他們必承認我是上主。

And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.

8 因為他們背信違約，我必使那地方變為荒野──吾主上主的斷語。」

Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’ declares the Lord GOD.”