以西結書 15
1 耶和華的話臨到我說、
The word of the LORD came to me:
2 人子阿、葡萄樹比別樣樹有甚麼強處、葡萄枝比眾樹枝有甚麼好處。
"Son of man, how is the wood of a vine better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest?
3 其上可以取木料作甚麼工用、可以取來作釘子掛甚麼器皿麼。
Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?
4 看哪、已經拋在火中當作柴燒、火既燒了兩頭、中間也被燒了、還有益於工用麼。
And 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?
5 完全的時候尚且不合乎甚麼工用、何況被火燒壞、還能合乎甚麼工用麼。
If 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 所以主耶和華如此說、眾樹以內的葡萄樹、我怎樣使他在火中當柴、也必照樣待耶路撒冷的居民。
"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.
7 我必向他們變臉、他們雖從火中出來、火卻要燒滅他們.我向他們變臉的時候、你們就知道我是耶和華。
I 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.
8 我必使地土荒涼、因為他們行事干犯我.這是主耶和華說的。
I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD."