Then the word of the LORD
came
to me, saying
,
"Son of man
, how
is the wood
of the avine
better than
any
wood
of a branch
which
is among the trees
of the forest
?
"Can wood be taken
from it to make
1anything
, or
can men take
a peg
from it on which to hang
any
vessel
?
" 1If it has been put
into the afire
for fuel
, and the fire
has consumed
both
of its ends
and its middle
part
has been
charred
, is it then useful
for 2anything
?
"Behold, while it is intact
, it is not made
into 1anything
. How
much
less
, when
the fire
has consumed
it and it is charred
, can it still
be made
into 1anything
!
"Therefore, thus
says
the Lord
1GOD
, `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 aset My face
against them. Though they have bcome
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.
`Thus I will make the land
desolate
, because
they have aacted
unfaithfully
,' " declares
the Lord
GOD
.