2He dug it all around, cleared it of stones,And planted it with[b]the choicest vine.And He built a tower in the middle of it,And also carved out a[c]wine vat in it;Then He expectedit to producegood grapes,But it producedonly[d]worthless ones.3“And now, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,Judge between Me and My vineyard.4“What more was there to do for My vineyard[e]that I have not done in it?Why,when I expectedit to producegood grapes did it produce[f]worthless ones?5“So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard:I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed;I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground.6“I will lay it waste;It will not be pruned nor hoed,But briars and thorns will come up.I will also command the clouds not to rain on it.”7For the vineyard of the LORD of armies is the house of Israel,And the people of Judah are His delightful plant.So He waited for justice, but behold,there was bloodshed;For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.Woes for the Wicked
8Woe to those who attach house to houseand join field to field,Until there is no more room,And you alone are a landowner in the midst of the land!9In my ears the LORD of armieshas sworn, “Many houses shall certainly become desolate,Even great and fine ones, without occupants.10“For ten acres of vineyard will yieldonly one[g]bathof wine,And a[h]homer of seed will yieldonly an[i]ephah of grain.”11Woe to those who rise early in the morning so that they may pursue intoxicating drink,Who stay up late in the evening so that wine may inflame them!12Their banquets areaccompanied by lyre and harp,by tambourine and flute, andby wine;But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD,Nor do they consider the work of His hands.13Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge;And their