1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

2 Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree? What is the branch among the trees of the forest?

3 Shall wood be taken from it to do a work? Will [men] take a peg from it to hang any vessel thereon?

4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for [any] work?

5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work; how much less afterward shall it be meet for [any] work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?

6 Therefore thus hath the Lord GOD said: As the vine tree among the trees of the forest which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I have given over the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 And I will set my face against them; they came out of [one] fire, and [another] fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD when I set my face against them.

8 And I will make the land desolate because they have completely rebelled, said the Lord GOD.: