Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 The LORD's word came to me:
1
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?
2
O mortal, how does the wood of the vine surpass all other 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?
3
Is wood taken from it to make anything? Does one take a peg from it on which to hang any object?
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?
4
It is put in 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.
5
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,
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 I will give 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.
7
I will set my face against them; although they escape from the fire, the fire shall still consume them; and you shall 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.
8
And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord God.