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 wood of the vine more than any wood, 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 do 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 given to the fire for fuel: the fire consumeth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned; is it fit 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 used for no work; how much less when the fire hath consumed it, and it is burned, should it yet be used 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 wood of the vine 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 [one] fire, and [another] 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 a desolation, because they have wrought unfaithfulness, saith the Lord Jehovah.