1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 Son of man, how is the wood of the vine tree better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3 Can wood be taken from it to do any work, or can men take a peg of it to hang any vessel on it?
4 If it has been cast into the fire for fuel and the fire has devoured both ends of it and the middle of it is burned, is it useful for any work?
5 When it was whole, it was not made into anything. How much less is it useful for any work when the fire has devoured it and it is burned!
6 Therefore thus says the Lord God: As the wood of the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 I will set My face against them. Though they go out from one fire, yet the fire shall devour them. Then you shall know 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 God.