1 And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2 Son of Man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3 Will wood be taken of it to make any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?
4 Look, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned: is it profitable for any work?
5 Look, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, will it yet be meet for any work!
6 Therefore thus says the Sovereign Yahweh: As 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 And I will set my face against them; they will go forth from the fire, but the fire will devour them; and you{+} will know that I am Yahweh, when I set my face against them.
8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, says the Sovereign Yahweh.