32
1 Behold,
a king shall
reign in
righteousness,
and princes shall
rule in justice.
2 A man
shall be as
a hiding place
from the wind,
and a covert
from the storm,
as streams of
water in a
dry place,
as the shade
of a large
rock in a
weary land.
3 The
eyes of those
who see will
not be dim,
and the ears of
those who hear
will listen.
4 The
heart of the
rash will
understand knowledge,
and the tongue
of the stammerers
will be ready
to speak plainly.
5 The
fool will no
longer be called
noble,
nor the scoundrel
be highly respected.
6 For
the fool will
speak folly,
and his heart
will work iniquity,
to practice profanity,
and to utter
error against the
LORD,
to make empty
the soul of
the hungry,
and to cause
the drink of
the thirsty to
fail.
7 The ways
of the scoundrel
are evil.
He devises wicked
plans to destroy
the humble with
lying words,
even when the needy
speaks right.
8 But
the noble devises
noble things,
and he will
continue in noble
things.
9 Rise
up, you women
who are at
ease! Hear my
voice!
You careless daughters,
give ear to
my speech!
10 For
days beyond a
year you will
be troubled,
you careless women;
for the vintage
will fail.
The harvest won’t
come.
11 Tremble,
you women who are
at ease!
Be troubled,
you careless ones!
Strip yourselves,
make yourselves naked,
and put sackcloth
on your waist.
12 Beat
your breasts for
the pleasant
fields,
for the fruitful
vine.
13 Thorns
and briers will
come up on
my people’s land;
yes, on all
the houses of
joy in the
joyous city.
14 For
the palace will be
forsaken.
The populous city
will be deserted.
The hill and
the watchtower will
be for dens
forever,
a delight for
wild donkeys,
a pasture of
flocks,
15 until
the Spirit is
poured on us
from on high,
and the
wilderness becomes
a fruitful field,
and the fruitful
field is
considered a
forest.
16 Then
justice will dwell
in the wilderness;
and righteousness
will remain in
the fruitful field.
17 The
work of
righteousness will
be peace,
and the effect
of righteousness,
quietness and confidence
forever.
18 My
people will live
in a peaceful
habitation,
in safe dwellings,
and in quiet
resting places,
19 though
hail flattens the
forest,
and the city
is leveled completely.
20 Blessed are
you who sow
beside all waters,
who send out
the feet of
the ox and
the donkey.