1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2. Son of man, how is the wood of the vine tree better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3. Can wood be taken from it to do any work, or can men take a peg of it to hang any vessel on it?
4. If it has been cast into the fire for fuel and the fire has devoured both ends of it and the middle of it is burned, is it useful for any work?
5. When it was whole, it was not made into anything. How much less is it useful for any work when the fire has devoured it and it is burned!