¹ And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

² Son of man, What is the vine-tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

³ Shall wood be taken of it to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel upon it?

⁴ Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it suitable for any work?

⁵ Behold, when it was whole, it was fit for no work: how much less then shall it be fit for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

⁶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

⁷ And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

⁸ And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

²⁶ And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all the first-born, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.