< Ezekiel 15 >

1 And there is a word of YHWH to me, saying,
And the word of Jehovah came to 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 is the wood of the vine more than any wood, —a branch, that is 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?
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 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, 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 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 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, 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 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 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; 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 And I have made the land a desolation, Because they have committed a trespass,” A declaration of Lord YHWH!
And I will make the land desolate, because they have grievously trespassed, saith the Lord Jehovah.

< Ezekiel 15 >