[1] The LORD spoke to me. [2] "Mortal man," he said, "how does a vine compare with a tree? What good is a branch of a grapevine compared with the trees of the forest? [3] Can you use it to make anything? Can you even make a peg out of it to hang things on? [4] It is only good for building a fire. And when the ends are burned up and the middle is charred, can you make anything out of it? [5] It was useless even before it was burned. Now that the fire has burned it and charred it, it is even more useless." [6] Now this is what the Sovereign LORD is saying: "Just as a vine is taken from the forest and burned, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem [7] and will punish them. They have escaped one fire, but now fire will burn them up. When I punish them, you will know that I am the LORD. [8] They have been unfaithful to me, and so I will make the country a wilderness." The Sovereign LORD has spoken.
