1. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2. “Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3. Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on?
4. Instead, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work?
5. Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?