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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

Jerusalem—a Useless Vine

15 Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, how does a grapevine compare to a tree? Is a vine’s wood as useful as the wood of a tree? Can its wood be used for making things, like pegs to hang up pots and pans? No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns too quickly. Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire!

“And this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines growing among the trees of the forest. Since they are useless, I have thrown them on the fire to be burned. And I will see to it that if they escape from one fire, they will fall into another. When I turn against them, you will know that I am the Lord. And I will make the land desolate because my people have been unfaithful to me. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

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