For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
For - rather, But in contrast to God's seemingly favouring the enemy while their projects against Judah were in the bud (Isaiah 18:4).
Afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect - perfected; when the enemy's plans are on the verge of completion.
And the sour grape is ripening in the flower rather 'when the flower shall become the ripening grape' And the sour grape is ripening in the flower - rather, 'when the flower shall become the ripening grape' (Maurer).
He shall both cut off the sprigs - the shoots with the grapes on them. God will not only disconcert their present plans, but prevent them forming any future ones. The "harvest" and vintage here typify the purifying judgments which shall cause the excision of the ungodly from the earth, as the prelude to the placing of the faithful in a state of peace on the earth. not the last judgment (John 15:2; Revelation 14:15-20).