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 to 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 men of Judah are his cherished plant; He looked for judgment, but
see, bloodshed for justice, but hark,
the outcry!
Note that God compares His chosen
people with a vineyard in which a farmer does all those things necessary so that the vines bear
fruit. However, the vines do not bear fruit. In this passage, God works with
the Israelite people. He does all the things necessary and expects the fruit
of justice, but the people sin. The people are able to do good, but they choose evil.