Jerusalem the Useless Vine
1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, how is the wood from a vine tree better than any tree, or than the branch of the vine from among the trees of the forest? 3 Is wood taken from it to make anything useful? Can men make a peg from it to hang anything on it? 4 Indeed, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle of it is charred. Is it useful for anything? 5 When it was whole, it was unsuitable for anything. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it has been burned, could it be useful for anything?”
6 Therefore the Lord GOD says, “As I have given the vine tree among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 I will set my face against them. If they escape from the fire, the fire will still devour them. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. 8 I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful,” says the Lord GOD.