1The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2"Son of man, what good is the wood from a vine? Is it better than the wood from a tree in the forest? 3Do people use it to make something? Do they make a peg from it to hang things on? 4No! It is only thrown into the fire as fuel. The fire burns up both its ends and chars its middle. Then can it be used to make anything? 5When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn't be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it? 6"So this is what the Almighty LORD says: As a vine is taken from among the trees in the forest to be used to feed the fire, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem to punish them. 7I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will turn against them. 8I will turn the country into a wasteland because they have been unfaithful," declares the Almighty LORD.