The Useless Vine
1The word of the Lord came to me:
2O mortal, how does the wood of the vine surpass all other wood,
the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?*
3Is wood taken from it to make anything?
Does one take a peg from it on which to hang any object?
4It is put in 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?*
5When 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!
6Therefore 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 I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.* 7I will set my face against them; although they escape from the fire, the fire shall still consume them, and you shall know that I am the Lord when I set my face against them.* 8And I will make the land desolate because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord God.*