EZEKIEL Chapter 15

Jerusalem, A Useless Vine

The Word of the Lord came to me:

2 'Son of man, how is the wood of a vine

Better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest?

3 Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?

Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?

4 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?

5 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?

6 'THERE FOR 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.

7 I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST THEM.

Although they have come out of the Fire,

The Fire will yet Consume them.

And when I set My Face against them,

YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.

8 I WILL MAKE THE LAND DESOLATE

BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN UNFAITHFUL,

DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD.'

(Ezekiel 15)