Ezekiel 15

1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest?

2 Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

3 Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?

3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

4 No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?

4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

5 Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!

5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

6 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘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 people of Jerusalem.

6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; 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.

7 And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.

7 And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

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

8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.