| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1This message came to me from the LORD: | 1The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 2"Son of Man, how does wood from a vine compare to a branch taken from any of the trees in the forest? | 2"Son of man, of all the woody branches among the trees of the forest, what happens to the wood of the vine? |
| 3Is wood ever taken from it to make anything practical? Can it even be made into a peg to hang something on? | 3Can wood be taken from it to make anything useful? Or can anyone make a peg from it to hang things 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? | 4No! It is thrown in the fire for fuel; when the fire has burned up both ends of it and it is charred in the middle, will it be useful for anything? |
| 5If it was useless before it was burned, now that it's been burned and charred through, it's even more useless! | 5Indeed! If it was not made into anything useful when it was whole, how much less can it be made into anything when the fire has burned it up and it is charred? |
| 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 | 6"Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Like the wood of the vine is among the trees of the forest which I have provided as fuel for the fire--so I will provide the residents of Jerusalem as fuel. |
| 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 to them | 7I will set my face against them--although they have escaped from the fire, the fire will still consume them! Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. |
| 8and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief," declares the Lord GOD. | 8I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully, declares the sovereign LORD." |
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