1Zvino shoko raJehovha rakasvika kwandiri, richiti,
1And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
2Mwanakomana womunhu, muti womuzambiringa unopfuura mimwe miti yose neiko, iro davi romuzambiringa riri pakati pemiti iri kudondo?
2Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3Danda ringatorwapo rokuita basa naro here? Kana vanhu vangatorapo mbambo yokuturikisa mudziyo upi noupi here?
3Shall wood be taken thereof to make any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
4Tarirai, unokandirwa mumoto dzive huni; moto wapedza miromo miviri yawo, napakati watsvawo, zvino uchabatsira pabasa here?
4Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire hath devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned: is it profitable for any work?
5Tarirai, uchakanaka hauna kukwanira basa chose; ndoda zvino kana moto waupedza, kana watsva, haukwaniri basa!
5Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work!
6Naizvozvo zvanzi naIshe Jehovha, Somuti womuzambiringa pakati pemiti iri kudondo, wandakaisa kumoto dzive huni, saizvozvo ndakaisa vagere Jerusaremu pakuparadzwa.
6Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: 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.
7Ndichavarinzira chiso changu ndivaitire zvakaipa; vakabuda pamoto, asi moto uchavapedza; zvino muchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha, kana ndichivarinzira chiso changu ndivaitire zvakaipa.
7And I will set my face against them; they shall go forth from the fire, but the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I set my face against them.
8Ndichaparadza nyika, nekuti vakandidarikira, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Jehovha.
8And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord Jehovah.