Ezekiel 15

1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

2 “Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, the vine branch which is amongst the trees of the forest?

Son of man, what is the wood of the vine more than any wood, the vine-branch, which is among the trees of the forest?

3 Will wood be taken of it to make anything? Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?

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

4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and the middle of it is burnt. Is it profitable for any work?

Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel: the fire consumeth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned; is it fit for [any] work?

5 Behold, when it was whole, it was suitable for no work. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it has been burnt, will it yet be suitable for any work?”

Behold, when it was whole, it was used for no work; how much less when the fire hath consumed it, and it is burned, should it yet be used for any work?

6 Therefore the Lord GOD says: “As the vine wood amongst the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will 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 the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 I will set my face against them. They will go out from the fire, but the fire will still devour them. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

And I will set my face against them: they shall go forth 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 acted unfaithfully,” says the Lord GOD.

And I will make the land a desolation, because they have wrought unfaithfulness, saith the Lord Jehovah.