Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
You will plant vineyards and take care of them, but you won't be able to drink the wine or harvest the grapes, because worms will eat them.
This verse warns that hard work can be rendered useless when God's protection is removed - even careful labor won't guarantee results.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is speaking to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land, as he reiterates God's laws and the consequences of obedience or disobedience. This verse is part of a larger section of curses that would follow if the people broke their covenant with God, emphasizing how their hard work in agriculture could be rendered useless. In ancient Israelite society, vineyards represented economic stability and divine blessing, so this warning highlighted the real threat of pests as a form of judgment for unfaithfulness.
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