New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
1
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
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?
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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 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Does one take a peg from it on which to hang any object?
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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 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?
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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 used for nothing; how much less—when the fire has consumed it, and it is charred— can it ever be used for anything!
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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 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.
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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; 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.
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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 And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord God.
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And I will make the land a waste because they have done evil, says the Lord.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.