2
"Son of man, is the wood of a vine better than the wood of any of the trees in the forest?
3
Can its wood ever be made into anything useful? Can pegs be made from it to hang things on?
4
"Suppose it is thrown in the fire to be burned. And the fire burns both ends and blackens the middle. Then is it useful for anything?
5
It was not useful when it was whole. So how can it be made into something useful now? The fire has burned it and blackened it."
6
The LORD and King says, "Instead of the wood of any tree in the forest, I have given the vine to burn in the fire. I will treat the people who live in Jerusalem the same way.
7
I will turn against them. They might have come out of the fire. But the fire will destroy them anyway. I will turn against them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
8
I will make the land a dry and empty desert. My people have not been faithful to me," announces the LORD and King.