Two carpenters examine a charred grapevine branch beside strong cedar beams in a plain workshop

Ezekiel 15

Bible in Basic English
Chapter overview
A grapevine's wood is less useful than ordinary forest timber and becomes entirely useless after burning. Through this brief parable, Jerusalem is compared to scorched vine wood: handed over because persistent unfaithfulness has left it unable to fulfill its purpose.
VineJerusalemFaithfulnessJudgment

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1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any branching tree which is among the trees of the woods?
3Will its wood be used for any work? do men make of it a pin for hanging any vessel on?
4See, it is put into the fire for burning: the fire has made a meal of its two ends and the middle part of it is burned; is it good for any work?
5Truly, before it was cut down, it was not used for any purpose: how much less, when the fire has made a meal of it and it is burned, will it be made into anything?
6For this cause the Lord has said: Like the vine-tree among the trees of the woods which I have given to the fire for burning, so will I give the people of Jerusalem.
7And my face will be turned against them; and though they have come out of the fire they will be burned up by it; and it will be clear to you that I am the Lord when my face is turned against them.
8And I will make the land a waste because they have done evil, says the Lord.

Bible in Basic English — Public Domain. Where these translations come from.