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.