The speaker changes with this verse. The prophet is no longer talking about his friend Yahweh, the owner of the vineyard, but Yahweh himself is now speaking. And now marks this change in the direction of the speech. It does not mean “At this very time” in this context. Possible renderings for it are “So” and “Well then.” Good News Translation translates it “So now my friend says” to indicate clearly the change in speakers here (similarly New Century Version). It also adds quotation marks around Yahweh’s speech, which closes at the end of verse 6 (also Bible en français courant).

O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah are two parallel phrases referring to the people of Jerusalem and the rest of Judah (see 1.1). Men here refers to all the people, not just the males. New Century Version says “You people living in Jerusalem, and you people of Judah” (similarly Good News Translation).

Judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard: As noted in the introductory comments on this section [5.1-7], I pray you renders the Hebrew particle naʾ. It does not refer to prayer here, but invites the listeners to enter the dialogue. With the verb judge Yahweh calls on the people to decide whether he or the vineyard itself is at fault for the sour grapes. The two rhetorical questions that follow in verse 4 clarify what is in his mind. He challenges the people to evaluate the situation. Ironically, they are the ones who are being portrayed as the vineyard in the parable, so they stand in court as the accused.

Consider the following translation examples for this verse:

• Now then, you who live in Jerusalem and Judah, decide who is at fault, me or my vineyard.

• Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .