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The Useless Vine

15The word of the Lord 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?
³ Is wood taken from it to make anything?
   Does one take a peg from it on which to hang any object?
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?
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!

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. ⁷I 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. ⁸And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord God.