Ezekiel 15

1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

And the word of Yahweh came unto 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 can the vine-tree be more than any other tree, —any branch which hath been found 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 there be taken from it wood, to be made into any work? Or will men take therefrom a peg, to hang thereon any vessel?

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?

Lo! into the fire, it is given up for fuel, — The two ends thereof, doth the fire devour, And the middle thereof is charred, Is it 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?”

Lo! while it was yet whole, it could not be made into any work, — how much less when! the fire hath devoured it. and it is charred, can it still be made into any work?

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 My Lord Yahweh, As a vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given up to the fire for fuel, so have I given up 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.

Therefore will I set my face against them, Out of one fire, have they come forth But another fire, shall devour them, —So shall ye know that, I, am Yahweh, by my setting my face against them;

8 I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,” says the Lord GOD.

I will therefore give up the land as a desolation, —because they have committed treachery, Declareth My Lord., Yahweh.