1 And the word of the LORD came to me:

2 "Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?

3 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do men take a peg from it to hang any vessel on?

4 Lo, it is given to the fire for fuel; when the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?

5 Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing; how much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!

6 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 And I will set my face against them; though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them; and you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord GOD."