¹The LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,

²“Son of man , what is the vine tree more than any tree , the vine branch which is amongst the trees of the forest ?

³Will wood be taken of it to make anything ? Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it ?

⁴Behold , it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends , and the middle of it is burnt. Is it profitable for any work ?

⁵Behold , when it was whole , it was suitable for no work . How much less , when the fire has devoured it , and it has been burnt , will it yet be suitable for any work ?”

⁶Therefore the Lord GOD says : “As the vine wood amongst the trees of the forest , which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give the inhabitants of Jerusalem .

⁷I will set my face against them . They will go out from the fire, but the fire will still devour them . Then you will know that I am the LORD , when I set my face against them .

⁸I will make the land desolate , because they have acted unfaithfully ,” says the Lord GOD .