1. I will sing a songabout my friend's vineyardthat was on the sideof a fertile hill.
2. My friend dug the ground,removed the stones,and planted the best vines.He built a watchtowerand dug a pit in rocky groundfor pressing the grapes.He hoped they would be sweet,but bitter grapeswere all it produced.
3. Listen, people of Jerusalemand of Judah!You be the judge of meand my vineyard.
4. What more could I have donefor my vineyard?I hoped for sweet grapes,but bitter grapeswere all that grew.
5. Now I will let you knowwhat I am going to do.I will cut down the hedgeand tear down the wall.My vineyard will be trampledand left in ruins.
6. It will turn into a desert,neither pruned nor hoed;it will be coveredwith thorns and briars.I will command the cloudsnot to send rain.
7. I am the Lord All-Powerful!Israel is the vineyard,and Judah is the gardenI tended with care.I had hoped for honestyand for justice,but dishonestyand cries for mercywere all I found.
8. You are in for trouble! You take over house after house and field after field, until there is no room left for anyone else in all the land.