< Ezekiel 15 >
1 The word of the LORD came 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 which is among the 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 Shall wood be taken of it to make any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
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 Look, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and its midst is burned: is it profitable for any 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 Look, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any 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 says the LORD: 'As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give 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 I will set my face against them; they shall go forth from the fire, but the fire shall devour them; and you shall 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 one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I set my face against them.
8 I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass,' says the LORD."
And I will make the land desolate, because they have grievously trespassed, saith the Lord Jehovah.