The Song of the Vineyard
(Luke 13:6-9)
1Now will I singto my wellbeloveda songof my belovedtouching his vineyard.My wellbelovedhath a vineyardin a very fruitfulhill:
2And he fencedit, and gathered out the stonesthereof, and plantedit with the choicest vine,and builta towerin the midstof it, and also madea winepresstherein: and he lookedthat it should bring forthgrapes,and it brought forthwild grapes.
3And now, O inhabitantsof Jerusalem,and menof Judah,judge,I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
4What could have been donemore to my vineyard,that I have not donein it? wherefore,when I lookedthat it should bring forthgrapes,brought it forthwild grapes?
5And now go to; I will tellyou what I will doto my vineyard:I will take awaythe hedgethereof, and it shall be eaten up;[and] break downthe wallthereof, and it shall be trodden down:
6And I will layit waste:it shall not be pruned,nor digged;but there shall come upbriersand thorns:I will also commandthe cloudsthat they rainno rainupon it.
7For the vineyardof the LORDof hosts[is] the houseof Israel,and the menof Judahhis pleasantplant:and he lookedfor judgment,but behold oppression;for righteousness,but behold a cry.
Woes to the Wicked
8Woeunto them that joinhouseto house,[that] layfieldto field,till [there be] noplace,that they may be placedalone in the midstof the earth!
9In mine ears[said] the LORDof hosts,Of a truthmanyhousesshall be desolate,[even] greatand fair,without inhabitant.
10Yea,tenacresof vineyardshall yieldonebath,and the seedof an homershall yieldan ephah.
11Woeunto them that rise up earlyin the morning,[that] they may followstrong drink;that continueuntil night,[till] wineinflamethem!
12And the harp,and the viol,the tabret,and pipe,and wine,are in their feasts:but they regardnot the workof the LORD,neither considerthe operationof his hands.
13Therefore my peopleare gone into captivity,because [they have] no knowledge:and their honourablemen[are] famished,and their multitudedried upwith thirst.
14Therefore hellhath enlargedherself,and openedher mouthwithout measure:and their glory,and their multitude,and their pomp,and he that rejoiceth,shall descendinto it.
15And the mean manshall be brought down,and the mighty manshall be humbled,and the eyesof the loftyshall be humbled:
16But the LORDof hostsshall be exaltedin judgment,and Godthat is holyshall be sanctifiedin righteousness.
17Then shall the lambsfeedafter their manner,and the waste placesof the fat onesshall strangerseat.
18Woeunto them that drawiniquitywith cordsof vanity,and sinas it were with a cartrope:
19That say,Let him make speed,[and] hastenhis work,that we may see[it]: and let the counselof the Holy Oneof Israeldraw nighand come,that we may know[it]!
20Woeunto them that callevilgood,and goodevil;that putdarknessfor light,and lightfor darkness;that putbitterfor sweet,and sweetfor bitter!
21Woeunto [them that are] wisein their own eyes,and prudentin their own sight!
22Woeunto [them that are] mightyto drinkwine,and menof strengthto minglestrong drink:
23Which justifythe wickedforreward,and take awaythe righteousnessof the righteousfrom him!
24Therefore as the firedevoureththe stubble,and the flameconsumeththe chaff,[so] their rootshall be as rottenness,and their blossomshall go upas dust:because they have cast awaythe lawof the LORDof hosts,and despisedthe wordof the Holy Oneof Israel.
25Therefore is the angerof the LORDkindledagainst his people,and he hath stretched forthhis handagainst them, and hath smittenthem: and the hillsdid tremble,and their carcases[were] tornin the midstof the streets.For all this his angeris not turned away,but his hand[is] stretched outstill.
26And he will lift upan ensignto the nationsfrom far,and will hissunto them from the endof the earth:and, behold, they shall comewith speedswiftly:
27None shall be wearynor stumbleamong them; none shall slumbernor sleep;neither shall the girdleof their loinsbe loosed,nor the latchetof their shoesbe broken:
28Whose arrows[are] sharp,and all their bowsbent,their horses'hoofsshall be countedlike flint,and their wheelslike a whirlwind:
29Their roaring[shall be] like a lion,they shall roar{08675;07580:08804} like young lions:yea, they shall roar,and lay holdof the prey,and shall carry [it] away safe,and none shall deliver[it].
30And in that daythey shall roaragainst them like the roaringof the sea:and if [one] lookunto the land,behold darkness[and] sorrow,and the lightis darkenedin the heavensthereof.
