Ezekiel 15

1 And there is a word of Jehovah unto 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? The vine-branch that hath been, Among 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 Is wood taken from it to use for work? Do they take of it a pin to hang any vessel on 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 Lo, to the fire it hath been given for fuel, Its two ends hath the fire eaten, And its midst hath been scorched! Is it profitable for 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 Lo, in its being perfect it is not used for work, How much less, when fire hath eaten of it, And it is scorched, Hath it been used yet for work?

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 said the Lord Jehovah: 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 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 have set My face against them, From the fire they have gone forth, And the fire doth consume them, And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah, In My setting 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 have made the land a desolation, Because they have committed a trespass, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!'

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