Ezekiel 15

1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah 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, what is the wood of the vine more than any wood, —a branch, that is among the trees of 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?

Shall wood be taken from it to be wrought into any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hang a vessel upon?

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?

Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the middle of it is burned. Is it then fit for any work?

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?”

Behold, when it was whole, nothing could be made of it; how much less can anything be made of it when the fire hath devoured it and it is burned!

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 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 to it the inhabitants 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; they shall go out 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 I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,” says the Lord GOD.

And I will make the land desolate, because they have grievously trespassed, saith the Lord Jehovah.