Ezekiel 15

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

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

2 Son of man, What is the vine-tree more than any tree, [or than] a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

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

3 Shall wood be taken of it to do any work? or will [men] take a pin of it to hang any vessel upon it?

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

4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it suitable for [any] work?

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?

5 Behold, when it was whole, it was fit for no work: how much less then shall it be fit for [any] work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

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!

6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; 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 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.

7 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] the LORD, when I set my face against them.

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.

8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

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