以西結書 15

1 耶和華的話臨到我說：

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

2 「人子啊，葡萄樹比別樣樹有甚麼強處？葡萄枝比眾樹枝有甚麼好處？

Son of man, What shall become of the wood of the vine more than of any other wood, of the branch which was standing among the trees of the forest?

3 其上可以取木料做甚麼工用，可以取來做釘子掛甚麼器皿嗎？

Can wood be taken therefrom to employ it for any work? or will men take from it a pin to hang thereon any vessel?

4 看哪，已經拋在火中當作柴燒，火既燒了兩頭，中間也被燒了，還有益於工用嗎？

Behold, if it be given up to the fire to be consumed, —[and] the fire have consumed both its ends, and the middle of it be scorched; will it be fit for any work?

5 完全的時候尚且不合乎甚麼工用，何況被火燒壞，還能合乎甚麼工用嗎？」

Behold, when it was yet entire, it could not be employed for any work: how much more [must this be] when the fire hath consumed it, and it is scorched, —and shall it yet be employed for any work?

6 所以，主耶和華如此說：「眾樹以內的葡萄樹，我怎樣使它在火中當柴，也必照樣待耶路撒冷的居民。

Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given up to the fire to be consumed: so do I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 我必向他們變臉；他們雖從火中出來，火卻要燒滅他們。我向他們變臉的時候，你們就知道我是耶和華。

And I will set my face against them: from the fire have they gone forth, yet the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.

8 我必使地土荒涼，因為他們行事干犯我。這是主耶和華說的。」

And I will render the land a desert; because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord Eternal.