Jerusalem the Useless Vine

1And the word of YHWH came to me, saying: 2“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine more than any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? 3Is wood taken from it it to use for work? Or do they make from it a peg to hang any vessel on it?

4Behold, it is given to the fire for food; the two of its ends the fire devours, and the middle of it is burned. Is it useful for work? 5Behold, in its being complete, it could not be made for work; how much less when the fire has devoured it and it is burned, can it even be made yet for work!

6Therefore, thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Just like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for food, so I have given those dwelling in Jerusalem. 7And I will set My face against them; from the fire they will come out, and the fire will devour them! And you⁺ will know that I am YHWH, in My setting My face against them.

8And I will make the land a desolation, because they have been greviously unfaithful’—a declaration of the Lord YHWH.”