Ezekiel 15

1 The LORD’s word came to 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 which is among the 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 Will wood be taken of it to make anything? Will men take a pin of it 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 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and the middle of it is burned. Is it profitable for any 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 Behold, when it was whole, it was suitable for no work. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it has been burned, will it yet be suitable for any 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 the Lord GOD says: “As the vine wood among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give 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 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. 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 I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,” says the Lord GOD.

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