Common English Bible w/ Apocrypha CEBA
New International Version NIV
1 The LORD's word came to me:
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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 is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in 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 ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?
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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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 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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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, 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 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 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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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 I will turn the land into a ruin because they acted faithlessly, proclaims the LORD God.
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I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.