Story of the Vine

15 The ·Lord spoke his word [^Lword of the Lord came] to me, saying: ² “·Human [^TSon of man; 2:1], is the wood of the vine better than the wood of any tree in the forest? ³ Can wood be taken from the vine to make anything? Can you use it to make a peg on which to hang something? ⁴ If the vine is thrown into the fire for fuel, and the fire burns up both ends and ·starts to burn [chars] the middle, is it useful for anything? ⁵ [^LLook; ^TBehold] When the vine was whole, it couldn’t be made into anything. When the fire has burned it completely, ·it certainly cannot [how much less can it] be made into anything.”

⁶ So this is what the Lord God says: “Out of all the trees in the forest, I have given the wood of the vine as fuel for fire. In the same way I have given up the people who live in Jerusalem ⁷ and will ·turn [^Lset my face] against them. Although they came through one fire, fire will still ·destroy [consume] them. When I ·turn [^Lset my face] against them, you will know that I am the Lord. ⁸ So I will make the land ·empty [desolate], because the people have not been ·loyal [faithful], says the Lord God.”