Ezekiel 15

Modern

Literal

Jerusalem the Useless Vine

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

¹And the word of YHWH came to me, saying:

²“Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest?

²“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine more than any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?

³Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?

³Is wood taken from it it to use for work? Or do they make from it a peg to hang any vessel on it?

⁴No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?

⁴Behold, it is given to the fire for food; the two of its ends the fire devours, and the middle of it is burned. Is it useful for work?

⁵Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!

⁵Behold, in its being complete, it could not be made for work; how much less when the fire has devoured it and it is burned, can it even be made yet for work!

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

⁶Therefore, thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Just like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for food, so I have given those dwelling in Jerusalem.

⁷And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.

⁷And I will set My face against them; from the fire they will come out, and the fire will devour them! And you will know that I am YHWH, in My setting My face against them.

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

⁸And I will make the land a desolation, because they have acted unfaithfully—an unfaithfulness’—a declaration of the Lord YHWH.”