A reading from the book of Isaiah.

Let me sing for my beloved. My love song concerning his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very

fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines. He built a

watchtower in the midst of it and hewed out a wine vat in it, and he looked for it to yield

grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge

between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it?

When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? And now I will tell

you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured. I will break

down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste. It shall not be pruned

or hold, and briars and thorns shall grow up. I will also command the clouds that they

rain nor rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah

are his pleasant planting, and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed, for righteousness,

but behold, and I'll cry. Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room,

and you are made to dwell alone, in the midst of the land.

The Lord of Host has sworn in my hearing.

Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses without inhabitant,

for ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath,

and a homer of seed shall yield but anifa.

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink,

who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them.

They have lear and harp, tambourine and flute, and wine at their feasts, but they do not

regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands. Therefore my people go into exile

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