1 Y ahweh’s word came to me, saying,

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

2 S on 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, 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 W ill wood be taken of it to make anything? Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?

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 B ehold, 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?

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 B ehold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work!

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 T herefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: As the vine tree 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: 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 I will set my face against them; they shall go out from the fire, but the fire shall devour them; and you shall know that I am Yahweh, 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 I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, says the Lord Yahweh.

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