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.