¹耶和华 的话 临到我说 ：

¹And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

¹ CHAPTER XV

The Jewish nation, about to be destroyed by the Chaldeans,

compared to a barren vine which is fit for nothing but to be

cast into the fire, 1-8.

NOTES ON CHAP. XV

²人 子 啊，葡萄 树 比别样树 有甚么强处？葡萄枝 比众树 枝有甚么好处？

²Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

² Verse 2. What is the vine tree more than any tree] It is certain

that the vine is esteemed only on account of its fruit. In some

countries, it is true, it grows to a considerable size and

thickness: but, even then, it is not of a sufficient density to

work into furniture. But whatever may be said of the stock of the

vine, it is the branch that the prophet speaks of here; and I

scarcely know the branch of any tree in the forest more useless

than is the branch of the vine. Out of it who can even make a pin

to drive into a mud wall, or hang any vessel on? A vine would

never be cultivated for the sake of its wood; it is really

worthless but as it bears fruit. What is Israel? Good for

nothing, but as God influenced them to bring forth fruit to his

glory. But now that they have ceased to be fruitful, they are good

for nothing, but, like a withered branch of the vine, to be burnt.

³其上可以取 木料 做 甚么工 用，可以取来 做钉子 挂 甚么器皿 么？

³Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

⁴看哪，已经抛在 火 中当作柴 烧，火 既烧了 两 头 ，中间 也被烧了 ，还有益于 工 用么？

⁴Behold, 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?^a

⁴ Verse 4. The fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst

of it is burned.] Judea is like a vine branch thrown into the

fire, which seizes on both the ends, and scorches the middle: so

both the extremities of the land is wasted; and the middle,

Jerusalem, is now threatened with a siege, and by and by will be

totally destroyed.

⁵完全 的时候尚且不合乎 甚么工 用，何况被火 烧 坏 ，还能合乎 甚么工 用么？

⁵Behold, 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?^b

⁶所以，主 耶和华 如此说 ：众树 以内的葡萄 树 ，我怎样使 它在火 中当柴 ，也必照样待 耶路撒冷 的居民 。

⁶ ¶ 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.

⁶ Verse 6. Therefore thus saith the Lord] As surely as I have

allotted such a vine branch, or vine branches, for fuel; so

surely have I appointed the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be

consumed.



The design of this parable is to abate the pride of the Jews; to

show them that, in their best estate, they had nothing but what

they had received, and therefore deserved nothing; and now, having

fallen from all righteousness, they can have no expectation of any

thing but judgment unmixed with mercy.

⁷我必向他们变 脸 ；他们虽从火 中出来 ，火 却要烧灭 他们。我向他们变 脸 的时候，你们就知道 我是耶和华 。

⁷And 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.

⁷ Verse 7. They shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall

devour them] If they escape the sword, they shall perish by the

famine; if they escape the famine, they shall be led away

captives. To escape will be impossible. It will be to them

according to the proverb:-

Incidit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim.



"Out of the scald, into the flame."

⁸我必使 地土 荒凉 ，因为他们行事干犯 我。这是主 耶和华 说 的。

⁸And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.^c

⁸ Verse 8. They have committed a trespass] They have prevaricated;

they are the worst of sinners, and shall have the heaviest of

punishments. Can men suppose that it is possible to hide even

their dark hearts from God?