Jacob 5:47
1830 Edition
But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay; I have nourished it, and I have digged it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long; and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire, that they should be burned. Who is it that hath corrupted my vineyard?
Influences
Isaiah 5:4 (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?
Luke 13:8 (KJV)
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
Changes
But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay;, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long;, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire, that they should be burned. Who is it that haths corrupted my vineyard?
Simple English
“But what more could I have done in my vineyard? Did I stop working? No, I fed it. I dug around it. I trimmed it. I put fertilizer on it. I have worked almost all day long. The end is near. I am sad that I must cut down all my vineyard trees and burn them. Who has ruined my vineyard?”
Paraphrase
“What more could I have done for my vineyard? Have I held back from nourishing it? No! I’ve nourished it, dug around it, pruned it, and fertilized it. I’ve worked almost constantly, and the end is nearly here. It breaks my heart to have to cut down all these trees and burn them. Who has corrupted my vineyard?”