1The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, how is a grapevine better than any other tree, or a branch from a vine that grows among the trees of the forest?
3Is its wood used to make anything? Do people use it to make a peg to hang any container on?
4Look, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire consumes both ends, and the middle is charred. Is it useful for any purpose?
5Look, even when it was whole, it was useless for any purpose. How much less will it be useful for any purpose after the fire has consumed it and it is burned?”
6Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahweh says: “Just as I have given the grapevine among the trees of the forest to the fire for fuel, so I will give the people of Jerusalem.
7I will stand against them. They may escape from the fire, but the fire will still destroy them. Then you will know that I am Yahweh when I stand against them.
8I will make the land empty and barren because they have betrayed me,” says the Lord Yahweh.