Jerusalem the Useless Vine 1 RV And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, BSB BSB: Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 RV Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest? BSB BSB: “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest?
3 RV Shall wood be taken thereof to make any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? BSB BSB: Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?
4 RV Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel: the fire hath devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned; is it profitable for any work? BSB BSB: No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?
5 RV Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work? BSB BSB: Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!
6 RV Therefore thus saith 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. BSB BSB: Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘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 people of Jerusalem.
7 RV And I will set my face against them; they shall go forth from the fire, but the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. BSB BSB: And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.
8 RV And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD. BSB BSB: Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’ declares the Lord GOD.”