The Song of the Vineyard

(Luke 13:6–9)

I will sing for my beloved a song of [his] vineyard:

My beloved had a vineyard

on a very fertile hill.

2 

He dug it up and cleared the stones

and planted the finest vines.

He built a watchtower in the middle

and dug out a winepress {as well}.

He waited for [the vineyard] to yield good grapes,

but the fruit it produced was sour!

3 

“And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem

and men of Judah,

I exhort you to judge

between Me and My vineyard.

4 

What more could have been done for My vineyard

than I have done for it?

Why, when I expected [sweet] grapes,

did it bring forth sour fruit?

5 

Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard:

I will take away 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,

neither pruned nor cultivated,

and thorns and briers will grow up.

I will command the clouds

that rain shall not fall on it.”

7 

For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts

is the house of Israel,

and the men of Judah

are the plant of His delight.

He looked for justice,

but saw bloodshed;

for righteousness,

but heard a cry of distress.

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