1 A nd the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

2 S on of man, what is the wood of the vine more than any wood, the vine-branch, which is among the trees of the forest?

“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

3 S hall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel?

4 B ehold, it is given to the fire for fuel: the fire consumeth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned; is it fit for work?

If it has been put into the fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for anything?

5 B ehold, when it was whole, it was used for no work; how much less when the fire hath consumed it, and it is burned, should it yet be used for any work?

Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!

6 T herefore 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 the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

7 A nd I will set my face against them: they shall go forth from fire, and fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I Jehovah when I set my face against them.

and I set My face against them. Though they have come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them.

8 A nd I will make the land a desolation, because they have wrought unfaithfulness, saith the Lord Jehovah.

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