if you had a vineyard

if you had a vineyard

on a fruitful hill

and you fenced it and cleared it

of all stones yountil

you planted it

with the choicest of vine

and you even built a tower

and a press to make wine

and you looked that it would bring forth sweet grapes

and it gave only wild grapes

what would you say

jerusalem and judah

you be the judges i pray

between me and my vineyard

this is what god says

what more could i have done in it

that i did not do in it

why when i ask it for sweetness

it brings only bitterness

for the vineyard of the lord of hosts

is the house of israel

and the men of judah

his pleasant plant

and he looks for justice but beholds oppression

and he hopes for equality but hears a cry

jerusalem and judah

this is god's reply

sadness will come

to those who build house to house

and lay field to field 'til there's room

for none but you to dwell in the land

oh in the land

and sadness will come

to those who call evil good

and good evil who present

darkness as light

and light as darkness

who present as sweetness

only the things which are bitterness

for the vineyard of the lord of hosts

is the house of israel

and the men of judah his pleasant plant

oh oh his pleasant plant

oh that my eyes were a fountain of tears

that i might weep for my poor people

for every boot stamped with fierceness

for every cloak rolled in blood

jerusalem and judah

i'd cry if i could