Ezekiel 15

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any branching tree which is among the trees of the woods?

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

3 Will its wood be used for any work? do men make of it a pin for hanging any vessel on?

Shall wood be taken of it to make any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

4 See, it is put into the fire for burning: the fire has made a meal of its two ends and the middle part of it is burned; is it good for any work?

Look, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and its midst is burned: is it profitable for any work?

5 Truly, before it was cut down, it was not used for any purpose: how much less, when the fire has made a meal of it and it is burned, will it be made into anything?

Look, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work.

6 For this cause the Lord has said: Like the vine-tree among the trees of the woods which I have given to the fire for burning, so will I give the people of Jerusalem.

"Therefore thus says the LORD: '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.

7 And my face will be turned against them; and though they have come out of the fire they will be burned up by it; and it will be clear to you that I am the Lord when my face is turned against them.

I will set my face against them; they shall go forth from the fire, but the fire shall devour them; and you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

8 And I will make the land a waste because they have done evil, says the Lord.

I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass,' says the LORD."