Isaiah 5:4

God's faithfulness

² And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

³ And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

⁵ And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

⁶ And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: What more could I have done for My vineyard than I already did for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?
KJV: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
WEB: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes?
ASV: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
DARBY: What was there yet to do to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
BLB: What could have been done more for My vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why—I waited for [it] to make grapes—and it made wild grapes?

ÅB: Hva var det mere å gjøre med min vingård, som jeg ikke har gjort med den? Hvorfor bar den ville druer når jeg ventet at den skulle bære gode?
OTB: Hva mer kunne ha blitt gjort for min vingård enn jeg har gjort for den? Når jeg ventet gode druer, hvorfor ga den bare dårlige?
B1930: Hvad var det mere å gjøre med min vingård, som jeg ikke har gjort med den? Hvorfor bar den ville druer når jeg ventet at den skulde bære gode?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Read in context
Micah 6:3–4
O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:5
Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Read in context
Acts 7:51–60
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Read in context
Jeremiah 6:29–30
The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:30–31
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Read in context
Isaiah 1:5
Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Read in context
Ezekiel 24:13
In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
Read in context