Ezekiel 15

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows:	1 Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
2 Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than wood from the branch of a forest tree?	2 Son of man, what makes the wood of the vine better than any other wood? That branch among the trees of the forest!
3 Is its wood used for making anything? Are pegs on which to hang things made from it?	3 Can you use its wood to make anything worthwhile? Can you make even a peg from it, to hang on it any kind of vessel?
4 There it is, thrown on the fire for fuel. The fire burns off both ends; the middle is charred; can it be keptfor anything now?	4 If you throw it on the fire as fuel and the fire devours both ends and even the middle is scorched, is it still good for anything?
5 While it was intact, you could make nothing with it; burned and charred, is it any more useful now?	5 Why, even when it was whole it was good for nothing; how much less, when the fire has devoured and scorched it, can it be used for anything!
6 So, the Lord Yahweh says this: As the wood of the vine among the forest trees, which I have thrownon the fire for fuel, so shal I treat the inhabitants of Jerusalem.	6 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have destined as fuel for the fire, do I make the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 I shal set my face against them. They have escaped one fire, but fire wil devour them yet. And youwil know that I am Yahweh, when I set my face against them.	7 I will set my face against them; they have escaped from the fire, but the fire shall devour them. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD, when I turn my face against them.
8 I shal reduce the country to a desert, because of their infidelity- declares the Lord Yahweh.	8 I will make the land a waste, because they have broken faith, says the Lord GOD.