[1] Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in
justice. [2] Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from
the tempest, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a
great rock in a weary land. [3] Then the eyes of those who see will not be
closed, and the ears of those who hear will hearken. [4] The mind of the
rash will have good judgment, and the tongue of the stammerers will speak
readily and distinctly. [5] The fool will no more be called noble, nor the
knave said to be honorable. [6] For the fool speaks folly, and his mind
plots iniquity: to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the
LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the
thirsty of drink. [7] The knaveries of the knave are evil; he devises
wicked devices to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the
needy is right. [8] But he who is noble devises noble things, and by noble
things he stands. [9] Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice;
you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. [10] In little more than a
year you will shudder, you complacent women; for the vintage will fail, the
fruit harvest will not come. [11] Tremble, you women who are at ease,
shudder, you complacent ones; strip, and make yourselves bare, and gird
sackcloth upon your loins. [12] Beat upon your breasts for the pleasant
fields, for the fruitful vine, [13] for the soil of my people growing up in
thorns and briers; yea, for all the joyous houses in the joyful city. [14]
For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and
the watchtower will become dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of
flocks; [15] until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the
wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a
forest. [16] Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness
abide in the fruitful field. [17] And the effect of righteousness will be
peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever. [18]
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in
quiet resting places. [19] And the forest will utterly go down, and the
city will be utterly laid low. [20] Happy are you who sow beside all
waters, who let the feet of the ox and the ass range free.
