8 Woe to those who join house to house,
who lay field to field, until there is no room,
and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land! 9 In my ears, Yahweh of Armies says: “Surely many houses will be desolate,
even great and beautiful, unoccupied. 10 For ten acres [1] of vineyard shall yield one bath, [2]
and a homer [3] of seed shall yield an ephah. [4]” 11 Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink;
who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them! 12 The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their feasts;
but they don’t respect the work of Yahweh,
neither have they considered the operation of his hands. 13 Therefore my people go into captivity for lack of knowledge.
Their honorable men are famished,
and their multitudes are parched with thirst. 14 Therefore Sheol [5] has enlarged its desire,
and opened its mouth without measure;
and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it. 15 So man is brought low,
mankind is humbled,
and the eyes of the arrogant ones are humbled; 16 but Yahweh of Armies is exalted in justice,
and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness. 17 Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture,
and strangers will eat the ruins of the rich.
18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood,
and wickedness as with cart rope; 19 Who say, “Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it;
and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come,
that we may know it!” 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
who put darkness for light,
and light for darkness;
who put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine,
and champions at mixing strong drink; 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice for the innocent!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 5:8-23
Commentary on Isaiah 5:8-23
(Read Isaiah 5:8-23)
Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth of the world. Not that it is sinful for those who have a house and a field to purchase another; but the fault is, that they never know when they have enough. Covetousness is idolatry; and while many envy the prosperous, wretched man, the Lord denounces awful woes upon him. How applicable to many among us! God has many ways to empty the most populous cities. Those who set their hearts upon the world, will justly be disappointed. Here is woe to those who dote upon the pleasures and the delights of sense. The use of music is lawful; but when it draws away the heart from God, then it becomes a sin to us. God's judgments have seized them, but they will not disturb themselves in their pleasures. The judgments are declared. Let a man be ever so high, death will bring him low; ever so mean, death will bring him lower. The fruit of these judgments shall be, that God will be glorified as a God of power. Also, as a God that is holy; he shall be owned and declared to be so, in the righteous punishment of proud men. Those are in a woful condition who set up sin, and who exert themselves to gratify their base lusts. They are daring in sin, and walk after their own lusts; it is in scorn that they call God the Holy One of Israel. They confound and overthrow distinctions between good and evil. They prefer their own reasonings to Divine revelations; their own devices to the counsels and commands of God. They deem it prudent and politic to continue profitable sins, and to neglect self-denying duties. Also, how light soever men make of drunkenness, it is a sin which lays open to the wrath and curse of God. Their judges perverted justice. Every sin needs some other to conceal it.