Jerusalem
1
The word of the LORD came to me:
2
"Son of man, how is the wood of a vine better than that of a branch
on any of the trees in the forest?
3
Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?
Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?
4
And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends
and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?
5
If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be
made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?
6
"Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
As I have given the wood of the among the trees of the forest as fuel
for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem.
7
I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire,
the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them,
you will know that I am the LORD.
8
I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful,
declares the Sovereign LORD."