1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, What shall become of the wood of the vine more than of any other wood, of the branch which was standing among the trees of the forest? 3 Can wood be taken therefrom to employ it for any work? or will men take from it a pin to hang thereon any vessel? 4 Behold, if it be given up to the fire to be consumed,—[and] the fire have consumed both its ends, and the middle of it be scorched; will it be fit for any work? 5 Behold, when it was yet entire, it could not be employed for any work: how much more [must this be] when the fire hath consumed it, and it is scorched,—and shall it yet be employed for any work? 6 Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given up to the fire to be consumed: so do I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set my face against them: from the fire have they gone forth, yet the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them. 8 And I will render the land a desert; because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord Eternal.