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Jerusalem a Useless Vine

¹ And the word of Yahweh came^[a] to me, saying,^{[b] 2} "Son of man, how will the wood of the vine be better than^[c] any of the wood of^[d] the branch which is among the trees of the forest?^{[e] 3} Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can they take a tent peg from it to hang on it any object?^{[f] 4} Look! It is given to the fire as fuel. The fire will consume two of its ends, and its middle will be charred. Is it useful for anything? ⁵ Look! When it is in perfect condition,^[g] it will not be used for anything, how much less^[h] when the fire has consumed it^[i] and it is charred; and then can it be used again for anything? ⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Just like^[j] the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest^[k] which I gave to the fire for fuel, so I have given the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ⁷ And I will set my face against them. From the fire they mayescape,^[l] but the fire will yet consume them, and they will know that I am Yahweh when I set my face against them.^{[m] 8} And I will make the land a desolation because they acted very unfaithfully!"^[n] declares^[o] the Lord Yahweh.