Isaías 5:16-26

16 Mas Jehová de los ejércitos será ensalzado en juicio, y el Dios Santo será santificado con justicia.
17 Y los corderos serán apacentados según su costumbre; y extraños comerán las gruesas desamparadas.
18 ¡Ay de los que traen la iniquidad con cuerdas de vanidad, y el pecado como con coyundas de carreta,
19 Los cuales dicen: Venga ya, apresúrese su obra, y veamos: acérquese, y venga el consejo del Santo de Israel, para que lo sepamos!
20 ¡Ay de los que á lo malo dicen bueno, y á lo bueno malo; que hacen de la luz tinieblas, y de las tinieblas luz; que ponen lo amargo por dulce, y lo dulce por amargo!
21 ¡Ay de los sabios en sus ojos, y de los que son prudentes delante de sí mismos!
22 ¡Ay de los que son valientes para beber vino, y hombres fuertes para mezclar bebida;
23 Los que dan por justo al impío por cohechos, y al justo quitan su justicia!
24 Por tanto, como la lengua del fuego consume las aristas, y la llama devora la paja, así será su raíz como pudrimiento, y su flor se desvanecerá como polvo: porque desecharon la ley de Jehová de los ejércitos, y abominaron la palabra del Santo de Israel.
25 Por esta causa se encendió el furor de Jehová contra su pueblo, y extendió contra él su mano, é hirióle; y se estremecieron los montes, y sus cadáveres fueron arrojados en medio de las calles. Con todo esto no ha cesado su furor, antes está su mano todavía extendida.
26 Y alzará pendón á gentes de lejos, y silbará al que está en el cabo de la tierra; y he aquí que vendrá pronto y velozmente.

Isaías 5:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 5

In this chapter, under the parable of a vineyard and its ruins, the Jews and their destruction are represented; the reasons of which are given, their manifold sins and transgressions, particularly enumerated, with the punishment threatened to them, and which is delivered in form of a song. The vineyard is described by the owner of it, a well beloved one; by the situation of it, in a fruitful hill; by the fence about it, and care and culture of it; and by its not answering the expectation of the owner, it bringing forth wild grapes instead of good ones, Isa 5:1,2 wherefore the men of Judah and Jerusalem are made judges between the owner and his vineyard, what more could have been done to it, or rather what was now to be done to it, since this was the case; and the result is, that it should be utterly laid waste, and come to ruin; and the whole is applied to the house of Israel, and men of Judah, Isa 5:3-7 whose sins, as the cause of their ruin, are mentioned in the following verses; their covetousness, with the punishment of it, Isa 5:8-10 their intemperance, luxury, and love of pleasure, with the punishment threatened thereunto, Isa 5:11-14 whereby haughty men should be humbled, the Lord be glorified, and at the same time his weak and innocent people would be taken care of, Isa 5:15-17 next, other sins are taken notice of, and woes pronounced on account of them, as, an impudent course of sinning, insolent impiety against God, confusion of good and evil, conceit of their own wisdom, drunkenness, and perversion of justice, Isa 5:18-23 wherefore for these things, and for their contempt and rejection of the law and word of the Lord, utter destruction is threatened them, Isa 5:24 yea, the anger of God had been already kindled against them, and they had felt it in some instances, Isa 5:25 but they are given to expect severer judgments, by means of foreign nations, that should be gathered against them; who are described by their swiftness, strength, and vigilance; by their armour, horses, and carriages; and by their terror and cruelty; the consequence of which would be utter darkness, distress, and calamities, in the land of Judea, Isa 5:26-30.

The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.