A Message about Vines

1This message came to me from the LORD: 2“Son of Man, how does wood from a vine compare to a branch taken from any of the trees in the forest? 3Is wood ever taken from it to make anything practical? Can it even be made into a peg to hang something on? 4After all, it’s useful only for kindling a fire, isn’t it? And once you’ve burnt up the ends and charred through the middle of it, is it useful for anything else? 5If it was useless before it was burned, now that it’s been burned and charred through, it’s even more useless!

6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “Just as the wood from a grape vine is removed from the forest and used for kindling fires, I’m giving the inhabitants of Jerusalem over 7to punishment. They may have escaped one fire, but the coming fire will burn them up completely, and they will know that I am the LORD, when I set myself in opposition toa them 8and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief,” declares the Lord GOD.