Story of the Vine
15 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], is the wood of the vine better than the wood of any tree in the forest? 3 Can wood be taken from the vine to make anything? Can you use it to make a peg on which to hang something? 4 If the vine is thrown into the fire for fuel, and the fire burns up both ends and ·starts to burn [chars] the middle, is it useful for anything? 5 [L Look; T Behold] When the vine was whole, it couldn’t be made into anything. When the fire has burned it completely, ·it certainly cannot [how much less can it] be made into anything.”
6 So this is what the Lord God says: “Out of all the trees in the forest, I have given the wood of the vine as fuel for fire. In the same way I have given up the people who live in Jerusalem 7 and will ·turn [L set my face] against them. Although they came through one fire, fire will still ·destroy [consume] them. When I ·turn [L set my face] against them, you will know that I am the Lord. 8 So I will make the land ·empty [desolate], because the people have not been ·loyal [faithful], says the Lord God.”