Ezekiel 15

New International Version

Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

15 The word of the Lord came to me: ²“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? ³Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?^(B) Do they make pegs^(C) from it to hang things on? ⁴And 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) ⁵If 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“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. ⁷I 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) ⁸I will make the land desolate^(H) because they have been unfaithful,^(I) declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Ezekiel 17:5-10

New International Version

⁵“‘He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water,^(A) ⁶and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches^(B) turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.^(C)

⁷“‘But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water.^(D) ⁸It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches,^(E) bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

⁹“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.^(F) ¹⁰It has been planted,^(G) but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?^(H)’”

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Ezekiel 19:10-14

New International Version

¹⁰“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard^[a]^(A)
    planted by the water;^(B)
it was fruitful and full of branches
    because of abundant water.^(C)
¹¹Its branches were strong,
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.
It towered high
    above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
    and for its many branches.^(D)
¹²But it was uprooted^(E) in fury
    and thrown to the ground.
The east wind^(F) made it shrivel,
    it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
    and fire consumed them.^(G)
¹³Now it is planted in the desert,^(H)
    in a dry and thirsty land.^(I)
¹⁴Fire spread from one of its main^[b] branches
    and consumed^(J) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.’^(K)