Isaiah 5

1Let me sing for my beloved
my beloved’s song about his vineyard.
My beloved had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside. 2He dug it, cleared its stones,
and planted choice vines.
He built a tower in its midst
and cut out a winepress.
He expected grapes,
but it produced foul fruit.

3“Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard. 4What more could I have done for my vineyard
that I have not done?
Why, when I expected grapes,
did it produce foul fruit?

5Now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard:
remove its hedge, and it will be devoured;
break its wall, and it will be trampled. 6I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor hoed,
overgrown with thorns and briers.
I will command the clouds
to send no rain on it.”

7The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel;
the people of Judah are the planting he delighted in.
He expected justice—but look, bloodshed!
Righteousness—but listen, a cry!