1-2. I’ll sing a ballad to the one I love,a love ballad about his vineyard:The one I love had a vineyard,a fine, well-placed vineyard.He hoed the soil and pulled the weeds,and planted the very best vines.He built a lookout, built a winepress,a vineyard to be proud of.He looked for a vintage yield of grapes,but for all his pains he got junk grapes.
3-4. “Now listen to what I’m telling you,you who live in Jerusalem and Judah.What do you think is going onbetween me and my vineyard?Can you think of anything I could have doneto my vineyard that I didn’t do?When I expected good grapes,why did I get bitter grapes?
5-6. “Well now, let me tell youwhat I’ll do to my vineyard:I’ll tear down its fenceand let it go to ruin.I’ll knock down the gateand let it be trampled.I’ll turn it into a patch of weeds, untended, uncared for—thistles and thorns will take over.I’ll give orders to the clouds:‘Don’t rain on that vineyard, ever!’”