5:1 I 1 will sing to my love –
a song to my lover about his vineyard. 2
My love had a vineyard
on a fertile hill. 3
5:2 He built a hedge around it, 4 removed its stones,
and planted a vine.
He built a tower in the middle of it,
and constructed a winepress.
He waited for it to produce edible grapes,
but it produced sour ones instead. 5
5:3 So now, residents of Jerusalem, 6
people 7 of Judah,
you decide between me and my vineyard!
5:4 What more can I do for my vineyard
beyond what I have already done?
When I waited for it to produce edible grapes,
why did it produce sour ones instead?
5:5 Now I will inform you
what I am about to do to my vineyard:
I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture, 8
I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there. 9
5:6 I will make it a wasteland;
no one will prune its vines or hoe its ground, 10
and thorns and briers will grow there.
I will order the clouds
not to drop any rain on it.
5:7 Indeed 11 Israel 12 is the vineyard of the Lord who commands armies,
the people 13 of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight.
He waited for justice, but look what he got – disobedience! 14
He waited for fairness, but look what he got – cries for help! 15
5:8 Those who accumulate houses are as good as dead, 16
those who also accumulate landed property 17
until there is no land left, 18
and you are the only landowners remaining within the land. 19
5:9 The Lord who commands armies told me this: 20
“Many houses will certainly become desolate,
large, impressive houses will have no one living in them. 21
5:10 Indeed, a large vineyard 22 will produce just a few gallons, 23
and enough seed to yield several bushels 24 will produce less than a bushel.” 25
5:11 Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, 26
those who keep drinking long after dark
until they are intoxicated with wine. 27
5:12 They have stringed instruments, 28 tambourines, flutes,
and wine at their parties.
So they do not recognize what the Lord is doing,
they do not perceive what he is bringing about. 29
5:13 Therefore my 30 people will be deported 31
because of their lack of understanding.
Their 32 leaders will have nothing to eat, 33
their 34 masses will have nothing to drink. 35