Ezekiel 15:4-6

New Catholic Bible

⁴ If it is thrown on the fire for fuel,
    and the fire consumes both ends and chars the middle,
    is it useful for anything?
⁵ When it was whole,
    it served no purpose.
How much less, when the fire has consumed it
    and it is charred,
    can it be used for anything?

Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest
    that I have thrown on the fire for fuel,
    so will I treat the inhabitants of Jerusalem.