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 wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3. Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel?
4. If it has been put into the fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for anything?
5. Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!