1 A nd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:

2 S on of man, How is the wood of the grapevine more than that of any tree, the vine branch which was among the trees of the forest?

`Son of man, What is the vine-tree more than any tree? The vine-branch that hath been, Among trees of the forest?

3 S hall wood be taken from it to do any work? Or will men take a peg of it on which to hang any vessel?

Is wood taken from it to use for work? Do they take of it a pin to hang any vessel on it?

4 B ehold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire consumes both ends of it and the middle of it is charred. Is it suitable or profitable for any work?

Lo, to the fire it hath been given for fuel, Its two ends hath the fire eaten, And its midst hath been scorched! Is it profitable for work?

5 N otice, even when it was whole, it was good for no work; how much less shall it be useful and profitable when the fire has devoured it and it is charred?

Lo, in its being perfect it is not used for work, How much less, when fire hath eaten of it, And it is scorched, Hath it been used yet for work?

6 T herefore thus says the Lord God: Like the wood of the grapevine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: As the vine-tree among trees of the forest, That I have given to the fire for fuel, So I have given the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 A nd I will set My face against them; they shall go out from one fire and another fire shall devour them, and you shall know (understand and realize) that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them.

And I have set My face against them, From the fire they have gone forth, And the fire doth consume them, And ye have known that I Jehovah, In My setting My face against them.

8 A nd I will make the land desolate (laid waste and deserted) because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord.

And I have made the land a desolation, Because they have committed a trespass, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!'