10 The pruner said, Content yourselves with what you think, and come again at harvest time and see.
11 And when the harvest time came on the busy neighbors came again; they were surprised.
12 The naked stalks had put forth branch and leaf, and heavy clusters of delicious grapes weighed every branch to earth.
13 The gatherers rejoiced as, day by day, they carried the rich fruitage to the press.
14 Behold, the vineyard of the Lord! the earth is spread with human vines.
15 The gorgeous forms and rites of men are branches, and their words are leaves; and these have grown so great that sunlight can no longer reach the heart; there is no fruit.
16 Behold, the pruner comes, and with a two-edged knife he cuts away the branches and the leaves of words,
17 And naught is left but unclothed stalks of human life.
18 The priests and they of pompous show, rebuke the pruner, and would stay him in his work.
19 They see no beauty in the stalks of human life; no promises of fruit.