Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 And the word of the LORD came to me:
1
The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
2 "Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?
2
"Son of man, what good is the wood from a vine? Is it better than the wood from a tree in the forest?
3 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do men take a peg from it to hang any vessel on?
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Do people use it to make something? Do they make a peg from it to hang things on?
4 Lo, it is given to 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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No! It is only thrown into the fire as fuel. The fire burns up both its ends and chars its middle. Then can it be used to make anything?
5 Behold, 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
When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn't be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it?
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 will I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
6
"So this is what the Almighty LORD says: As a vine is taken from among the trees in the forest to be used to feed the fire, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem to punish them.
7 And I will set my face against them; though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them; and you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
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I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will turn against them.
8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord GOD."
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I will turn the country into a wasteland because they have been unfaithful," declares the Almighty LORD.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.