Ezekiel 15

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

And God spoke to me through his message.

Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

Son of man, why is the vine tree special compared to other trees or just a branch in the forest?

Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

Will wood from this tree be used for tasks, or will people use it to hang anything on it?

Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

Look, it's being used as firewood; the fire consumes its ends and its center is burned. Is it suitable for anything else?

Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

Look, when it was complete, it wasn't good for any task. So, how can it be suitable for a task now, when fire has consumed it and it's burnt?

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

So, God says this: Just like a vine tree among other trees in the forest, which I let be burned as fuel, that's how I will handle the people living in Jerusalem.

And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

I will oppose them, they'll escape from one fire only to be consumed by another. You'll realize I'm in charge as I turn my attention against them.

And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

I will make the land empty since they broke the rules, says the Lord God.