1  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2  Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3  Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? 4  Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?* 5  Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?†

6 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7  And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. 8  And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.‡