1 The word of Adonai came to me saying:
2 “Son of man, how can the wood of a vine be better than the branch of any tree that is among the trees of the forest?
3 Can wood be taken from it to make anything useful? Can a peg be made from it to hang anything on?
4 Behold, when it is cast in the fire for fuel, both ends are devoured in fire and the middle is charred—is it useful for any work?
5 Look, when it was whole, it was not useful for any work—how much less, when the fire has devoured it and it is charred, will it be useful for any work?
6 Therefore thus says Adonai Elohim: Like the vine’s wood among the trees of the forest that I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 I will set My face against them. Even if they come out of the fire, the fire will yet devour them. So you will know that I am Adonai, when I set My face against them.
8 I will make the land desolate, because they have acted so faithlessly.” It is a declaration of Adonai.