1. Now I will sing a song to my friend. This song is about his vineyard.My friend had a vineyardon a hill with very rich soil.
2. He dug and cleared the field of stones.He planted the best grapevines there.And he built a tower in the middle of it.He cut out a winepress as well.He hoped good grapes would grow there.But only bad grapes grew.
3. My friend says, “You people living in Jerusalem,and you men of Judah,judge between me and my vineyard.
4. What more could I have done for my vineyard?I did everything I could.I hoped for good grapes to grow.But why were there only bad grapes?
5. Now I will tell youwhat I will do to my vineyard:I will remove the hedge,and it will be burned.I will break down the stone wall,and it will be walked on.
6. I will ruin my field.It will not be trimmed or hoed.Weeds and thorns will grow there.I will command the cloudsnot to rain on it.”
7. The vineyard belonging to the Lord of heaven’s armiesis the nation of Israel.The garden that the Lord lovesis the men of Judah.The Lord looked for justice, but there was only killing.The Lord hoped for right living, but there were only cries of pain.
8. How terrible it will be for you who add more houses to your housesand more fields to your fields.Finally there is no room left for other people.Then you are left alone in the land.
9. The Lord of heaven’s armies said this to me:“The fine houses will be destroyed.The large and beautiful houses will be left empty.