< Ezekiel 15 >

1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 “Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?
Son of man, what shall be made of the wood of the vine, out of all the trees of the woods that are among the trees of the forests?
3 Will wood be taken of it to make anything? Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?
Shall wood be taken of if, to do any work, or shall a pin be made of it for any vessel to hang thereon?
4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and the middle of it is burned. Is it profitable for any work?
Behold it is cast into the fire for fuel: the fire hath consumed both ends thereof, and the midst thereof is reduced to ashes: shall it be useful for any work?
5 Behold, when it was whole, it was suitable for no work. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it has been burned, will it yet be suitable for any work?”
Even when it was whole it was not fit for work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured and consumed it, shall any work be made of it?
6 Therefore the Lord GOD says: “As the vine wood among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God: As the vine tree among the trees of the forests which I have given to the fire to be consumed, so will I deliver up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 I will set my face against them. They will go out from the fire, but the fire will still devour them. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
And I will set my face against them: they shall go out from fire, and fire shall consume them: and you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have set my face against them.
8 I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,” says the Lord GOD.
And I shall have made their land a wilderness, and desolate, because they have been transgressors, saith the Lord God.

< Ezekiel 15 >