31 The Hebrew text has “nations,” but the preceding and following contexts make it clear that the Lord is judging his covenant people. עָמִים (’amim) should be changed (with support from the ) to עמו. The final mem (ם) on the form in the Hebrew is either dittographic or enclitic. When the mem was added or read as a plural ending, the vav (ו) was then misread as a yod (י).
32 The words “he says” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
33 The pronominal element is masculine plural; the leaders are addressed.
34 The verb בָּעַר (ba’ar, “graze, ruin”; II בער) is a homonym of the more common בָּעַר (ba’ar, “burn”; see I בער).
35 The vineyard is a metaphor for the nation here. See 5:1–7.
36 Heb “the plunder of the poor [is] in your houses” (so ).
37 The rhetorical question expresses the Lord’s outrage at what the leaders have done to the poor. He finds it almost unbelievable that they would have the audacity to treat his people in this manner.
38 Heb “the master, the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts].” On the title “the Lord who commands armies,” see the note at . The use of this title, which also appears in v. 1, forms an inclusio around vv. 1–15. The speech begins and ends with a reference to “the master, the Lord who commands armies.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The Lord has taken his place to contend;

he stands to judge peoples.

The Lord will enter into judgment

with the elders and princes of his people:

“It is you who have devoured the vineyard,

the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

What do you mean by crushing my people,

by grinding the face of the poor?”

declares the Lord God of hosts.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The Lord takes his place in court;

he rises to judge the people.

The Lord enters into judgment

against the elders and leaders of his people:

“It is you who have ruined my vineyard;

the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

What do you mean by crushing my people

and grinding the faces of the poor?”

declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The Lord rises to argue the case

and stands to judge the people.

The Lord brings this charge

against the elders and leaders of his people:

“You have devastated the vineyard.

The plunder from the poor is in your houses.

Why do you crush my people

and grind the faces of the poor?”

This is the declaration

of the Lord God of Armies.

NLTNew Living Translation

The Lord takes his place in court

and presents his case against his people!

The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment

on the elders and rulers of his people:

“You have ruined Israel, my vineyard.

Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.

How dare you crush my people,

grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?”

demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Yahweh takes his stand to conduct a legal case

and takes his stand to judge the peoples.

Yahweh enters into judgment with the elders of his people and its princes.

“And you! You have devoured the vineyard;

the spoil of the poor is in your houses!

Why do you crush my people

and grind the face of the poor?”

declares the Lord Yahweh of hosts.

KJV 1900King James Version

The Lord standeth up to plead,

And standeth to judge the people.

The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof:

For ye have eaten up the vineyard;

The spoil of the poor is in your houses.

What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces,

And grind the faces of the poor?

Saith the Lord God of hosts.

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