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.