1 A nd there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:

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

2 ` Son of man, What is the vine-tree more than any tree? The vine-branch that hath been, Among 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 I s wood taken from it to use for work? Do they take of it a pin to hang any vessel on it?

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

4 L o, 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?

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 L o, 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?

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 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.

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 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.

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

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