1 T hen the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

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

4 I f 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, 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 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 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 T hus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’” declares the Lord God.