Jerusalem Is Like a Useless Vine

¹A message from the Lord came to me. Here is what the Lord said. ² “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from the wood of any tree in the forest? ³ Can its wood ever be made into anything useful? Can pegs be made from it to hang things on? ⁴ Suppose it is thrown in the fire to be burned. And the fire burns both ends and blackens the middle. Then is the wood useful for anything? ⁵ It was not useful when it was whole. So how can it be made into something useful now? The fire has burned it and blackened it.”

⁶ Here is what the Lord and King says. “Instead of the wood of any tree in the forest, I have given the vine to burn in the fire. I will treat the people who live in Jerusalem the same way. ⁷ I will turn against them. They might have come out of the fire. But the fire will destroy them anyway. I will turn against them. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ⁸ I will make the land a dry and empty desert. My people have not been faithful to me,” announces the Lord and King.