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Jerusalem the Useless Vine

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,² “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest?³ Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?⁴ No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?⁵ Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed and charred it!⁶ Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the people of Jerusalem.⁷ And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.⁸ Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully, declares the Lord GOD.’”