Is Jerusalem Useful for Anything?

¹Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

²“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

³Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel?[#15:3 Lit a work]

⁴If it has been put into the fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends, and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for anything?[#15:4 Or Behold; #15:4 Lit a work]

⁵Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything![#15:5 Lit a work; #15:5 Lit a work]

⁶Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘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;

⁷and I will give My face to be against them. Though they have come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I set My face against them.

⁸Thus I will give over the land to desolation because they have acted unfaithfully,’ ” declares Lord Yahweh.