New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
1
God's Message came to me:
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?
2
"Son of man, how would you compare the wood of a vine with the branches of any tree you'd find in the forest?
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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Is vine wood ever used to make anything? Is it used to make pegs to hang things from?
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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"I don't think so. At best it's good for fuel. Look at it: a flimsy piece of vine, thrown in the fire and then rescued - the ends burned off and the middle charred. Now is it good for anything?
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!
5
"Hardly. When it was whole it wasn't good for anything. Half-burned is no improvement. What's it good for?
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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"So here's the Message of God, the Master: Like the wood of the vine I selected from among the trees of the forest and used as fuel for the fire, just so I'll treat those who live in 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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I am dead set against them. Even though at one time they got out of the fire charred, the fire's going to burn them up. When I take my stand against them, you'll realize that I am God.
8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord God.
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I'll turn this country into a wilderness because they've been faithless." Decree of God, the Master.
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.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.