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Jerusalem a Useless Vine

15 And the word of Yahweh came[a] to me, saying,[b] “Son of man, how will the wood of the vine be better than[c] any of the wood of[d] the branch which is among the trees of the forest?[e] Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can they take a tent peg from it to hang on it any object?[f] Look! It is given to the fire as fuel. The fire will consume two of its ends, and its middle will be charred. Is it useful for anything? Look! When it is in perfect condition,[g] it will not be used for anything, how much less[h] when the fire has consumed it[i] and it is charred; and then can it be used again for anything? Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Just like[j] the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest[k] which I gave to the fire for fuel, so I have given the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will set my face against them. From the fire they mayescape,[l] but the fire will yet consume them, and they will know that I am Yahweh when I set my face against them.[m] And I will make the land a desolation because they acted very unfaithfully!”[n] declares[o] the Lord Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 15:1 Literally “was”
  2. Ezekiel 15:1 Literally “to say”
  3. Ezekiel 15:2 Literally “more than”
  4. Ezekiel 15:2 Literally “all of the wood of”
  5. Ezekiel 15:2 Or “wood”
  6. Ezekiel 15:3 Or “vessel”
  7. Ezekiel 15:5 Literally “In being it perfect”
  8. Ezekiel 15:5 Literally “indeed”
  9. Ezekiel 15:5 Literally “for if fire has consumed it”
  10. Ezekiel 15:6 Literally “As that”
  11. Ezekiel 15:6 Or “wood”
  12. Ezekiel 15:7 Literally “go out”
  13. Ezekiel 15:7 Literally “in to set me my face against them”
  14. Ezekiel 15:8 Literally “they displayed infidelity”
  15. Ezekiel 15:8 Literally “declaration of”

Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

15 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine(A) different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?(B) Do they make pegs(C) from it to hang things on? And 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?(D) If 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?

“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. I will set my face against(E) them. Although they have come out of the fire(F), the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.(G) I will make the land desolate(H) because they have been unfaithful,(I) declares the Sovereign Lord.”

15 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

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

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

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?

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?

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.

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.

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