Ezekiel 15

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

And the word of Jehovah came 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 wood of the vine more than any wood, —a branch, that is among the 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?

Shall wood be taken from it to be wrought into any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hang a vessel upon?

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 is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the middle of it is burned. Is it then fit for any 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, when it was whole, nothing could be made of it; how much less can anything be made of it when the fire hath devoured it and it is burned!

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 saith the Lord Jehovah: As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give to it 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 will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I set my face against them.

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

And I will make the land desolate, because they have grievously trespassed, saith the Lord Jehovah.