5. Now I will tell youwhat I am about to do to My vineyard:I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed;I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled.
6. I will make it a wasteland. It will not be pruned or weeded;thorns and briers will grow up. I will also give orders to the cloudsthat rain should not fall on it.
7. For the vineyard of the Lord of Hostsis the house of Israel, and the men of Judah,the plant He delighted in.He looked for justicebut saw injustice,for righteousness,but heard cries of wretchedness.
8. Woe to those who add house to house and join field to fielduntil there is no more roomand you alone are left in the land.
9. I heard the Lord of Hosts say:Indeed, many houses will become desolate,grand and lovely ones without inhabitants.
10. For a ten-acre vineyard will yieldonly six gallons, and 10 bushels of seed will yieldonly one bushel.
11. Woe to those who rise early in the morningin pursuit of beer, who linger into the evening,inflamed by wine.
12. At their feasts they have lyre, harp,tambourine, flute, and wine.They do not perceive the Lord’s actions, and they do not see the work of His hands.
13. Therefore My people will go into exilebecause they lack knowledge; her dignitaries are starving,and her masses are parched with thirst.
14. Therefore Sheol enlarges its throatand opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s dignitaries, her masses,her crowds, and those who carouse in her!
15. Humanity is brought low, man is humbled,and haughty eyes are humbled.
16. But the Lord of Hosts is exalted by His justice, and the holy God is distinguished by righteousness.
17. Lambs will grazeas if in their own pastures, and strangers will eatamong the ruins of the rich.
18. Woe to those who drag wickednesswith cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,
19. to those who say:“Let Him hurry up and do His work quicklyso that we can see it!Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take placeso that we can know it! ”
20. Woe to those who call evil goodand good evil, who substitute darkness for lightand light for darkness,who substitute bitter for sweetand sweet for bitter.