Ezekiel 15 – NIV & NIRV

New International Version

Ezekiel 15:1-8

Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

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? 3Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs 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? 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?

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. 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. 8I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

New International Reader’s Version

Ezekiel 15:1-8

Jerusalem Is Like a Useless Vine

1A message from the Lord came to me. Here is what the Lord said. 2“Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from the wood of any tree in the forest? 3Can its wood ever be made into anything useful? Can pegs be made from it to hang things on? 4Suppose it is thrown in the fire to be burned. And the fire burns both ends and blackens the middle. Then is the wood useful for anything? 5It was not useful when it was whole. So how can it be made into something useful now? The fire has burned it and blackened it.”

6Here is what the Lord and King says. “Instead of the wood of any tree in the forest, I have given the vine to burn in the fire. I will treat the people who live in Jerusalem the same way. 7I will turn against them. They might have come out of the fire. But the fire will destroy them anyway. I will turn against them. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 8I will make the land a dry and empty desert. My people have not been faithful to me,” announces the Lord and King.