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Is Jerusalem Useful for Anything?

15 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, “Son of man, how is the wood of the (A)vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Can wood be taken from it to make [a]anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel? [b]If it has been put into the (B)fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends, and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for [c]anything? Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into [d]anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into [e]anything! Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will (C)give My face to be against them. Though they have (D)come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I set My face against them. Thus I will give over the land to desolation because they have (E)acted unfaithfully,’” declares Lord Yahweh.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 15:3 Lit a work
  2. Ezekiel 15:4 Or Behold
  3. Ezekiel 15:4 Lit a work
  4. Ezekiel 15:5 Lit a work
  5. Ezekiel 15:5 Lit a work

Parable of the Useless Vine

15 Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine,(A) that branch among the trees of the forest, compare to any other wood? Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can anyone make a peg from it to hang things on? In fact, it is put into the fire as fuel.(B) The fire devours both of its ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything? Even when it was whole it could not be made into a useful object. How much less can it ever be made into anything useful when the fire has devoured it and it is charred!”

Therefore, this is what the Lord God says, “Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire as fuel, so I will give up the residents of Jerusalem. I will turn against them.(C) They may have escaped from the fire, but it will still consume them.(D) And you will know that I am the Lord when I turn against them. I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

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