Ezekiel 15

1 The Lord’s word came to me.

2 “Son of man, how is vine wood better than any other wood or than the branches among the forest trees?”

3 “Do people take its wood to make something useful? Do they make a peg from it to hang any vessel on?”

4 “It is given only to the fire for fuel. The fire consumes what is pruned from it each year until it is completely gone. Can it be useful for any work?”

5 “It was not useful for work even when it was whole. How much less will it be useful after the fire has completely consumed it?”

6 “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have given Jerusalem’s residents over like vine wood among forest trees, which I have given to the fire for fuel.’”

7 “I will set my face against them. They will come out of the fire, but fire will consume them. When I set my face against them, they will know that I am the Lord.”

8 “I will give the land over to ruin because they committed an offense, says the Lord.”