葡萄樹的比喻

15 耶和華對我說: 「人子啊,葡萄木比林中其他木材更好嗎? 葡萄木有什麼用呢?能用它製造掛鉤掛東西嗎? 它只能用來當柴燒。如果火已經燒了它的兩頭,中間也燒黑了,它還有什麼用呢? 它完好無損的時候,尚且不能用來製造工具,被火燒後豈不更沒用了嗎? 所以,主耶和華說,我怎樣把林中的葡萄樹丟在火中當柴燒,也必照樣丟棄耶路撒冷的居民。 我必嚴懲他們。他們縱然火裡逃生,仍要被火燒滅。我嚴懲他們的時候,他們便知道我是耶和華。 我必使他們的土地荒涼,因為他們對我不忠。這是主耶和華說的。」

葡萄树的比喻

15 耶和华的话临到我说: “人子啊!葡萄树的木料怎能胜过树林中的枝子呢? 人可以从葡萄树上取木料制造物件吗?可以从葡萄树上取木料做钉子挂器皿吗? 看哪!已经拋在火里当作燃料,火既烧毁了两端,连中间也烧焦了,它还可以用来制造物件吗? 看哪!它完整的时候,尚且不能用来制造物件,何况它被火烧毁和烧焦了,它还能用来做甚么呢?” 因此,主耶和华这样说:“我怎样把树林中的葡萄树拋在火里当作燃料,也必照样对待耶路撒冷的居民。 我必变脸攻击他们;他们虽然从火里逃出来,火仍要吞灭他们;我变脸攻击他们的时候,你们就知道我是耶和华。 我必使这地荒凉,因为他们行了不忠的事。这是主耶和华的宣告。”

Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

15 The word of the Lord came to me: “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? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?(B) Do they make pegs(C) from it to hang things on? 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?(D) 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?

“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. I 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) I will make the land desolate(H) because they have been unfaithful,(I) declares the Sovereign Lord.”

15 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.

And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord God.

The Outcast Vine

15 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on? Instead, (A)it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work? Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?

“Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and (B)I will set My face against them. (C)They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. (D)Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them. Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,’ says the Lord God.”