1 Now let me sing of my friend,my beloved’s song about his vineyard.My friend had a vineyardon a fertile hillside;
2 He spaded it, cleared it of stones,and planted the choicest vines;Within it he built a watchtower,and hewed out a wine press.Then he waited for the crop of grapes,but it yielded rotten grapes.
3 Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem, people of Judah,judge between me and my vineyard:
4 What more could be done for my vineyardthat I did not do?Why, when I waited for the crop of grapes,did it yield rotten grapes?
5 Now, I will let you knowwhat I am going to do to my vineyard:Take away its hedge, give it to grazing,break through its wall, let it be trampled!
6 Yes, I will make it a ruin:it shall not be pruned or hoed,but will be overgrown with thorns and briers;I will command the cloudsnot to rain upon it.
7 The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,the people of Judah, his cherished plant;He waited for judgment, but see, bloodshed!for justice, but hark, the outcry!