Ezekiel 15

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

And there is a word of YHWH to me, saying,

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

“Son of man, What is the vine-tree more than any tree? The vine-branch that has been, Among trees of the forest?

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

Is wood taken from it to use for work? Do they take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?

4 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?

Behold, it has been given to the fire for fuel, The fire has eaten its two ends, And its midst has been scorched! Is it profitable for work?

5 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!

Behold, in its being perfect it is not used for work, How much less when fire has eaten of it, And it is scorched, Has it been used yet for work?”

6 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.

Therefore, thus said Lord YHWH: “As the vine-tree among trees of the forest, That I have given to the fire for fuel, So I have given the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 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.

And I have set My face against them, They have gone forth from the fire, And the fire consumes them, And you have known that I [am] YHWH, In My setting My face against them.

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

And I have made the land a desolation, Because they have committed a trespass,” A declaration of Lord YHWH!