< Ezekiel 15 >
1 And there is a word of Jehovah unto 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 that hath been, Among 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 Is wood taken from it to use for work? Do they take of it a pin 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 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?
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 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?
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, 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 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 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: 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 And I have made the land a desolation, Because they have committed a trespass, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!'
And I will make the land a desolation, because they have wrought unfaithfulness, saith the Lord Jehovah.