New International Version NIV
New Living Translation NLT
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
1
Then this message came to me from the LORD :
2 “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest?
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“Son of man, how does a grapevine compare to a tree? Is a vine’s wood as useful as the wood of a tree?
3 Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?
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Can its wood be used for making things, like pegs to hang up pots and pans?
4 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?
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No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns too quickly.
5 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?
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Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire!
6 “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.
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“And this is what the Sovereign LORD says: The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines growing among the trees of the forest. Since they are useless, I have thrown them on the fire to be burned.
7 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.
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And I will see to it that if they escape from one fire, they will fall into another. When I turn against them, you will know that I am the LORD .
8 I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
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And I will make the land desolate because my people have been unfaithful to me. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”