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Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ² "Son of man, how is the wood of a vine^(a) different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? ³ Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?^(b) Do they make pegs^(c) from it to hang things on? ⁴ And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?^{(d) 5} If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?

⁶ "Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. ⁷ I will set my face against^(e) them. Although they have come out of the fire^(f), the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.^{(g) 8} I will make the land desolate^(h) because they have been unfaithful,⁽ⁱ⁾ declares the Sovereign Lord."