Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
1 And the word of the LORD came to me:
1
The word of the LORD came to me:
2 "Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?
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“Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest?
3 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do men take a peg from it to hang any vessel on?
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Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?
4 Lo, it is given to the fire for fuel; when the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?
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And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?
5 Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing; how much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!
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If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?
6 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
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“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem.
7 And I will set my face against them; though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them; and you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
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I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.
8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord GOD."
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I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.