Study Desk

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

"Son of man, how is the wood of the ^(a)vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

Can wood be taken from it to make ^[a]anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel?

^[b]If it has been put into the ^(b)fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for ^[c]anything?

Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into ^[d]anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into ^[e]anything!

Therefore, thus says the Lord ^[f] God , ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

and I ^(c)set My face against them. Though they have ^(d)come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord , when I set My face against them.

Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have ^(e)acted unfaithfully,'" declares the Lord God .