< Ezekiel 15 >
1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
And there is a word of YHWH 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, What is the vine-tree more than any tree? The vine-branch that has been, Among trees of 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?
Is wood taken from it to use for work? Do they take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?
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?
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?
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?
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?”
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, 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.
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 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.
8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.
And I have made the land a desolation, Because they have committed a trespass,” A declaration of Lord YHWH!