| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1The word of the LORD came to me: | 1The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 2"Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? | 2"Son of man, of all the woody branches among the trees of the forest, what happens to the wood of the vine? |
| 3Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? | 3Can wood be taken from it to make anything useful? Or can anyone make a peg from it to hang things on? |
| 4And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? | 4No! It is thrown in the fire for fuel; when the fire has burned up both ends of it and it is charred in the middle, will it be useful for anything? |
| 5If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred? | 5Indeed! If it was not made into anything useful when it was whole, how much less can it be made into anything when the fire has burned it up and it is charred? |
| 6"Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. | 6"Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Like the wood of the vine is among the trees of the forest which I have provided as fuel for the fire--so I will provide the residents of Jerusalem as fuel. |
| 7I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the LORD. | 7I will set my face against them--although they have escaped from the fire, the fire will still consume them! Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. |
| 8I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD." | 8I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully, declares the sovereign LORD." |
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