vineyard

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard:
What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know
what I mean to do with my vineyard:
take away its hedge, give it to grazing,
break through its wall, let it be trampled!
Yes, I will make it a ruin:
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
but overgrown with thorns and briers;
I will command the clouds
not to send rain upon it.
The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;
he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!
for justice, but hark, the outcry!
Isaiah 5:1-7

When justice turns to bloodshed,
when outrage does not cease,
when we fear not your judgement,
how can we speak of peace?

We claim to be your vineyard
while trampling down your vines,
but you will tread the vintage
we have so long denied:

To shatter all our strongholds
and leave us in the ruins,
unless we turn from bloodshed
and let ourselves be pruned.

The vines that we have trampled,
that should have been our feast,
were you, O gentle master,
in all your last and least.

Do not destroy the vineyard—
We still can bear good fruit!—
but teach us your new vintage.
Train us to grow anew.

So may our hearts be grafted
into your holy vine
that we become your branches
and bear your holy wine.

The Red Vineyard, 1888 by Vincent van Gogh, is the only van Gogh painting sold during his lifetime By Vincent van Gogh – History of the Red Vineyard by Anna Boch.com, 2nd upload: wikipaintings, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3073079

I passed my days in idleness until a voice said, “Come! Be mine, and I will all your labors bless,” and sent me out to tend his vine. But now the night is drawing near, and I so little work have done. They who since dawn have labored here have earned rewards while I have none. And lo! He comes, the lord of all, to pay the workers for their toil. But I, so late to heed his call, what have I given to the soil? He takes my hand and hands me pay; so overwhelming is his wealth he gives me grace for all the day: his life, his peace, his love, himself. Oh, Savior, lord of earth and seed, you see how little I can do in service of the vineyard's need— I give it, though, for love of you. And when the sun has set at last, bring all your workers, great and least, the newly come with those long past, to share together in your feast.

Tag: vineyard

Worker In the Vineyard