Hiezechielis Prophetæ 15

1 Et factus est sermo Domini ad me, dicens:

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

2 Fili hominis, quid fiet de ligno vitis ex omnibus lignis nemorum, quae sunt inter ligna silvarum?

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

3 Numquid tolletur de ea lignum, ut fiat opus, aut fabricabitur de ea paxillus, ut dependeat in eo quodcumque vas?

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

4 Ecce igni datum est in escam: utramque partem eius consumpsit ignis, et medietas eius redacta est in favillam: numquid utile erit ad opus?

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 Etiam cum esset integrum, non erat aptum ad opus: quanto magis cum illud ignis devoraverit, et combusserit, nihil ex eo fiet operis?

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 Propterea haec dicit Dominus Deus: Quomodo lignum vitis inter ligna silvarum, quod dedi igni ad devorandum, sic tradam habitatores Ierusalem.

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 Et ponam faciem meam in eos: de igne egredientur, et ignis consumet eos: et scietis quia ego Dominus, cum posuero faciem meam in eos,

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 et dedero terram inviam, et desolatam: eo quod praevaricatores extiterint, dicit Dominus Deus.

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