1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, What shall become of the wood of the vine more than of any other wood, of the branch which was standing among the trees of the forest?

3 Can wood be taken therefrom to employ it for any work? or will men take from it a pin to hang thereon any vessel?

4 Behold, if it be given up to the fire to be consumed,––and the fire have consumed both its ends, and the middle of it be scorched; will it be fit for any work?

5 Behold, when it was yet entire, it could not be employed for any work: how much more must this be when the fire hath consumed it, and it is scorched,––and shall it yet be employed for any work?

6 Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given up to the fire to be consumed: so do I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 And I will set my face against them: from the fire have they gone forth, yet the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.

8 And I will render the land a desert; because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord Eternal.