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.

⁸ Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord Yahweh, and you became mine.

⁹ Then washed I you with water; yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.