My most beloved a vineyard owns

1 My most Belov'd a Vineyard owns,
Which on a fruitful hill is seen:
2 Around it a safe fence He made,
And clear'd of all the stones therein.
He planted there a beauteous vine,
And in the midst He built a tow'r,
A wine-press made, then look'd for grapes:
But grapes it yielded wild an sow'r.

3 And now, O ye inhabitants
Ev'n of Jerusalem, and ye
Of Judah, tho' ye parties are,
Between my vineyard judge and Me.
4 What for my vineyard could be done
Which I have not perform'd with care?
Why, when I look'd for pleasant grapes,
Did these degen'rate grapes appear?

5 And now I'll tell you what I'll do:
My vineyard's hedge remove will I
To be devour'd; and I'll throw down
It's wall; and it trod down shall lie.
5 I'll lay it waste and desolate;
Unprun'd, undig'd, with brambles spread,
And thorns; yea, to the clouds I'll say,
That on it they no rain should shed.

7 Because the house of Israel,
The LORD of hosts his vineyard is,
The men who dwell in Judah's tribe,
Are that most pleasant plant of his:
And when He judgment did expect,
Lo! there was an oppressing wound;
And when He look'd for righteousness,
Then lo! a bitter cry He found.


Source: The Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testament, faithfully translated into English Metre: being the New-England Psalm-Book, revised and improved... (2nd ed.) #I.V