The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The word of ADONAI came to me:
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And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 "Human being, why should wood from a grapevine be better than some other kind of wood, than some branch that one might find among the trees of the forest?
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Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any branching tree which is among the trees of the woods?
3 Its wood can't be used to make anything, not even a pin on which to hang a pot.
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Will its wood be used for any work? do men make of it a pin for hanging any vessel on?
4 So now it is thrown in the fire as fuel, the fire consumes both ends of it, and the middle of it is singed is it useful now for making something?
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See, it is put into the fire for burning: the fire has made a meal of its two ends and the middle part of it is burned; is it good for any work?
5 When it was whole, it was good for nothing; so how much less, when the fire has consumed it, and it is singed, will it be useful for making something!
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Truly, before it was cut down, it was not used for any purpose: how much less, when the fire has made a meal of it and it is burned, will it be made into anything?
6 "So Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'Like wood from the vine among the trees of the forest, which I consign to the fire as fuel, so I give those living in Yerushalayim.
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For this cause the Lord has said: Like the vine-tree among the trees of the woods which I have given to the fire for burning, so will I give the people of Jerusalem.
7 I will set my face against them they may have escaped one fire, but the fire will consume them yet. When I set my face against them, you will know that I am ADONAI.
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And my face will be turned against them; and though they have come out of the fire they will be burned up by it; and it will be clear to you that I am the Lord when my face is turned against them.
8 I will make the land desolate because they have dealt so treacherously,' says Adonai ELOHIM."
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And I will make the land a waste because they have done evil, says the Lord.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.