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Jerusalem like a Useless Vine
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, how is the wood of the Avine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Can wood be taken from it to make 1anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel? 1If it has been put into the Afire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for 2anything? Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into 1anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into 1anything! Therefore, thus says the Lord 1 God, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I Aset My face against them. Though they have Bcome out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them. Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have Aacted unfaithfully,’ ” declares the Lord God.
A 15:2 Ps 80:8-16; Is 5:1-7; Hos 10:1 1 15:3 Lit a work 1 15:4 Or Behold A 15:4 Is 27:11; Ezek 15:6; 19:14 2 15:4 Lit a work 1 15:5 Lit a work 1 15:5 Lit a work 1 15:6 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch A 15:7 Lev 26:17; Ps 34:16; Jer 21:10; Ezek 14:8 B 15:7 1 Kin 19:17; Is 24:18; Amos 9:1-4 A 15:8 Ezek 14:13; 17:20