Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 The LORD's word came to me:
1
And the word of the LORD came to me:
2 Human one, how is the vine's wood better than the wood of all the trees in the forest?
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"Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?
3 Can you make anything useful from its wood? Can you make a peg from it and hang objects on it?
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Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it?
4 If not, can it be used as firewood? Fire would consume its two ends, but its middle part would only get charred. So is it useful for anything?
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Behold, 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?
5 Look, even when it was whole, it was worthless. Now that the fire has consumed it, and it is charred, it's even more useless.
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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!
6 Therefore, the LORD God proclaims: Of all the trees in the forest, I have decreed that the vine's wood is destined to be consumed by fire. So also have I decreed for those who live in Jerusalem,
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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 have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 and I have confronted them. They may try to go out from the fire, but the fire will consume them. You will know that I am the LORD, because I confronted them.
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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.
8 I will turn the land into a ruin because they acted faithlessly, proclaims the LORD God.
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And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord GOD."
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.