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.”
葡萄树的比喻
1耶和华对我说： 2“人子啊，葡萄木比林中其他木材更好吗？ 3葡萄木有什么用呢？能用它制造挂钩挂东西吗？ 4看啊，它只能用来当柴烧。如果火已经烧了它的两头，中间也烧黑了，它还有什么用呢？ 5看啊，它完好无损的时候，尚且毫无用处，被火烧黑后岂不更没用了吗？ 6所以，主耶和华说：我怎样把林中的葡萄树扔进火中当柴烧，也必照样丢弃耶路撒冷的居民。 7我必严惩他们。他们纵然火里逃生，仍要被火烧灭。我严惩他们的时候，他们便知道我是耶和华。 8我必使他们的土地荒凉，因为他们对我不忠。这是主耶和华说的。”
