Isaiah 5
1Let me sing for my yadid ·beloved· a song of my dod ·beloved lover· about his vineyard. + 5:1. Quoted in Luke 20:9 2 My yadid ·beloved· had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. 1
2He dug it up, 2 gathered out its stones, 2 planted it with the choicest vine, 2 built a tower in the middle of it, 2 and also cut out a wine press + 5:2. (1-2) Quoted in Matt 21:33; Mark 12:1therein. 1 He looked for it to yield grapes, 2 but it yielded wild grapes. 1
3“Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem [City of peace] and men of Judah [Praised], 2 please judge between me and my vineyard. 1
4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? 2 Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes? 1
5Now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. 2 I will take away its hedge, and it will be eaten up. 2 I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled down. 1
6I will lay it a wasteland. 2 It won’t be pruned nor hoed, 2 but it will grow briers and thorns. 2 I will also enjoin the clouds that they rain no rain on it.” 1
7For the vineyard of Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] is the house of Israel [God prevails], 2 and the men of Judah [Praised] his pleasant plant: 2 and he looked for mishpat ·justice·, but, behold, oppression; 2 for righteousness, but, behold, a cry of distress. 1
8Woe to those who join house to house, 2 who lay field to field, until there is no room, 2 and you are made to dwell alone in the middle of the land! 1
9In my ears, Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] says: “Surely many houses will be desolate, 2 even great and beautiful, unoccupied. 1
10For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath [6 hins; 5.9 gal; 22 L], 2 and a homer [6.33 bushels; 59 gal; 220 L] of seed shall yield an ephah [0.63 bushels; 5.9 gal; 22 L].” 1
11Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; 2 who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them! 1
12The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their feasts; 2 but they don’t respect the work of Adonai, 2 neither have they considered the operation of his hands. 1
13Therefore my people go into captivity for lack of knowledge. 2 Their honorable men are famished, 2 and their multitudes are parched with thirst. 1
14Therefore Sheol ·Place of the dead· has enlarged its desire, 2 and opened its mouth without chok ·portion·; 2 and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it. 1
15So man is brought low, 2 mankind is humbled, 2 and the eyes of the arrogant ones are humbled; 1
16but Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] is exalted in mishpat ·justice·, 2 and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness. 1
17Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, 2 and strangers will eat the ruins of the rich. 1
18Woe to those who draw depravity (moral evil) with cords of falsehood, 2 and wickedness as with cart rope; 1
19Who say, “Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; 2 and let the counsel of haKadosh Isra'el [the Holy One of God prevails] draw near and come, 2 that we may know it!” 1
20Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; 2 who put darkness for light, 2 and light for darkness; 1 who put bitter for sweet, 2 and sweet for bitter! 1
21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, 2 and prudent in their own sight! 1
22Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, 2 and champions at mixing strong drink; 1
23who acquit the guilty for a bribe, 2 but deny justice for the innocent! 1
24Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, 2 and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, 2 so their root shall be as rottenness, 2 and their blossom shall go up as dust; 1 because they have rejected the Torah ·Teaching· of Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies], 2 and despised the word of haKadosh Isra'el [the Holy One of God prevails]. 1
25Therefore Adonai’s anger burns against his people, 2 and he has stretched out his hand against them, and has struck them. 1 The mountains tremble, 2 and their dead bodies are as refuse in the middle of the streets. 1 For all this, his anger is not turned away, 2 but his hand is still stretched out. 1
26He will lift up a banner to the nations from far, 2 and he will whistle for them from the end of the earth. 2 Behold, they will come speedily and swiftly. 1
27No one shall be weary nor stumble among them; 2 no one shall slumber nor sleep; 2 neither shall the belt of their waist be untied, 2 nor the strap of their sandals be broken: 1
28whose arrows are sharp, 2 and all their bows bent. 1 Their horses’ hoofs will be like flint, 2 and their wheels like a whirlwind. 1
29Their roaring will be like a lioness. 2 They will roar like young lions. 1 Yes, they shall roar, 2 and seize their prey and carry it off, 2 and there will be no one to deliver. 1
30They will roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea. 2 If one looks to the land behold, darkness and distress. 2 The light is darkened in its clouds.