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

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

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

Son 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?

3 I s wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on?

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

4 I nstead, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work?

Behold, 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?

5 I ndeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?

Notice, 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?

6 “ Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

Therefore 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.

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

8 T hus I will make the land desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,’ says the Lord God.”

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