Ezekiel 15

1The word of the LORD came to me: 2Son of man, how is the wood of the vine any better than other wood, than a branch among the trees of the forest? 3Can wood be taken from it to make anything useful? Can anyone make a peg from it to hang things on? 4No, it is thrown into the fire as fuel. When the fire has burned up both ends and the middle is charred, is it good for anything? 5Even when it was whole, it could not be made into anything useful. How much less can it be made into anything useful once the fire has burned it and it is charred!

6Therefore the Lord GOD says this: As with the vine’s wood among the forest trees, which I have handed over to the fire to burn, so I will hand over the people who live in Jerusalem. 7I will set my face against them. They have come out of the fire, but the fire will still burn them up. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I turn my face against them. 8I will make the land a desolation because they have been unfaithful, declares the Lord GOD.