[1] Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly.
[2] Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.
[3] Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen.
[4] The mind of the hasty will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly.
[5] No longer will the fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.
[6] For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.
[7] As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He devises wicked schemes To destroy the afflicted with slander, Even though the needy one speaks what is right.
[8] But the noble man devises noble plans; And by noble plans he stands.
[9] Rise up, you women who are at ease, And hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters.
[10] Within a year and a few days You will be troubled, O complacent daughters; For the vintage is ended, And the fruit gathering will not come.
[11] Tremble, you women who are at ease; Be troubled, you complacent daughters; Strip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist,
[12] Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
[13] For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up; Yea, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.
[14] Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever, A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks;
[15] Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fertile field, And the fertile field is considered as a forest.
[16] Then justice will dwell in the wilderness And righteousness will abide in the fertile field.
[17] And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
[18] Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;
[19] And it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low.
[20] How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.