Ezekiel 15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Useless Vine
15 The word of the Lord came to me:
2 O mortal, how does the wood of the vine surpass all other wood,
the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?(A)
3 Is wood taken from it to make anything?
Does one take a peg from it on which to hang any object?
4 It is put in the fire for fuel;
when the fire has consumed both ends of it
and the middle of it is charred,
is it useful for anything?(B)
5 When it was whole it was used for nothing;
how much less—when the fire has consumed it,
and it is charred—
can it ever be used for anything!
6 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.(C) 7 I will set my face against them; although they escape from the fire, the fire shall still consume them, and you shall know that I am the Lord when I set my face against them.(D) 8 And I will make the land desolate because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord God.(E)
Ezekiel 15
International Standard Version
A Message about Vines
15 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, how does wood from a vine compare to a branch taken from any of the trees in the forest? 3 Is wood ever taken from it to make anything practical? Can it even be made into a peg to hang something on? 4 After all, it’s useful only for kindling a fire, isn’t it? And once you’ve burnt up the ends and charred through the middle of it, is it useful for anything else? 5 If it was useless before it was burned, now that it’s been burned and charred through, it’s even more useless!
6 Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Just as the wood from a grape vine is removed from the forest and used for kindling fires, I’m giving the inhabitants of Jerusalem over 7 to punishment. They may have escaped one fire, but the coming fire will burn them up completely, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I set myself in opposition to[a] them 8 and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief,” declares the Lord God.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 15:7 Lit. set my face against
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