2 Esdras 4:16
King James VersionSource notes
“The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.”
Context
13He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel,
14And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.
15The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country.
16The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.
17The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them.
18If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?
19I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods.