1 Under the similitude of the vine, he describeth the state of the people. 8 Of their avarice. 11 Their drunkenness. 13 Of their captivity.

Now will [a]I sing to my [b]beloved a song of my beloved to his vineyard, (A)My beloved had a [c]vineyard in a very fruitful hill.

And he hedged it, and gathered out the stones of it, and he planted it with the best plants, [d]and he built a tower in the midst thereof, and made a winepress therein, then he looked that it should bring forth grapes: but it brought forth [e]wild grapes.

Now therefore, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, [f]between me and my vineyard.

What could I have done anymore to my vineyard that I have not done unto it? why have I looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it bringeth forth wild grapes?

And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I [g]will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up: I will break the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

And I will lay it waste: it shall not be cut, nor dug, but briers and thorns shall grow up: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

¶ Surely the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant plant, and he looked for [h]judgment, but behold oppression: for righteousness, but behold [i]a crying.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 5:1 The Prophet by this song doth set before the people’s eyes their ingratitude, and God’s mercy.
  2. Isaiah 5:1 That is, to God.
  3. Isaiah 5:1 Meaning, that he had planted his Church in a place most plentiful and abundant.
  4. Isaiah 5:2 He spared no diligence nor cost.
  5. Isaiah 5:2 In the seventh verse he declareth what they were.
  6. Isaiah 5:3 He maketh them judges in their own cause, forasmuch as it was evident that they were the cause of their own ruin.
  7. Isaiah 5:5 I will take no more care for it: meaning, that he would take from them his word and ministers, and all other comforts, and send them contrary plagues.
  8. Isaiah 5:7 Judgment and righteousness are true fruits of the fear of God, and therefore in the cruel oppression there is no religion.
  9. Isaiah 5:7 Of them that are oppressed.

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