1 The Song of the Vineyard
1 I will sing for the one I love 1 a song about his vineyard: 1 My loved one had a vineyard 1 on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones 2 and planted it with the choicest vines. 2 He built a watchtower in it 2 and cut out a winepress as well. 2 Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, 2 but it yielded only bad fruit.
3 "Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, 3 judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard 4 than I have done for it? 4 When I looked for good grapes, 4 why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you 5 what I am going to do to my vineyard: 5 I will take away its hedge, 5 and it will be destroyed; 5 I will break down its wall, 5 and it will be trampled.
6 I will make it a wasteland, 6 neither pruned nor cultivated, 6 and briers and thorns will grow there. 6 I will command the clouds 6 not to rain on it."
7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty 7 is the house of Israel, 7 and the men of Judah 7 are the garden of his delight. 7 And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; 7 for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
7 8
8 Woes and Judgments
8 Woe to you who add house to house 8 and join field to field 8 till no space is left 8 and you live alone in the land.
9 The Lord Almighty has declared in my hearing: 9 "Surely the great houses will become desolate, 9 the fine mansions left without occupants.
10 A ten-acre[a] vineyard will produce only a bath[b] of wine, 10 a homer[c] of seed only an ephah[d] of grain."
11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning 11 to run after their drinks, 11 who stay up late at night 11 till they are inflamed with wine.
12 They have harps and lyres at their banquets, 12 tambourines and flutes and wine, 12 but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord, 12 no respect for the work of his hands.
13 Therefore my people will go into exile 13 for lack of understanding; 13 their men of rank will die of hunger 13 and their masses will be parched with thirst.
14 Therefore the grave[e] enlarges its appetite 14 and opens its mouth without limit; 14 into it will descend their nobles and masses 14 with all their brawlers and revelers.
15 So man will be brought low 15 and mankind humbled, 15 the eyes of the arrogant humbled.
16 But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, 16 and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.
17 Then sheep will graze as in their own pasture; 17 lambs will feed[f] among the ruins of the rich.
