1The word of the Lord came to me:2‘Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest?3Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?4And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?5If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?6‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: as I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem.7I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.8I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord.’
Ezekiel 15
English Standard Version
Jerusalem, a Useless Vine
1And the word of the Lord came to me:2“Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? (Eze 2:1; Eze 15:6)3Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? (Isa 22:23)4Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? (Joh 15:6)5Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything! (Eze 15:3)6Therefore 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 have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Ps 80:8; Isa 5:1; Eze 15:4; Eze 17:6; Eze 19:10)7And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them. (2Ki 25:9; Eze 6:7; Eze 14:8)8And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.” (Eze 6:14; Eze 14:13)