1. And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2. Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3. Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
4. Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both the ends of it, and the middle of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?
5. Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?
6. Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7. And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
8. And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, said the Lord GOD.