Jerusalem like a Useless Vine

15 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, ^[a]how is the wood of the ^(A)vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? ³ Can wood be taken from it to make ^[b]anything, or can even a peg be taken from it on which to hang any utensil? ⁴ 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 good for ^[c]anything? ⁵ 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! ⁶ Therefore, this is what the Lord ^[f]God says: ‘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; ⁷ and I ^(C)set My face against them. Though they have ^(D)come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them. ⁸ So I will make the land desolate, because they have ^(E)acted unfaithfully,’” declares the Lord God.

⁴⁶ “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and speak prophetically against the ^(A)south and ^(B)prophesy against the ^(C)forest ^[a]land of the Negev, ⁴⁷ and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to ^(D)kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every ^[b]green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not go out and ^[c](E)the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. ⁴⁸ And all ^[d]mankind will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it will ^(F)not go out.”’”