Ezekiel 15

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

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

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

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

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 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?

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 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?”

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 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.

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 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.

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

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