1 See, a king will reign justlyand princes will rule rightly.
2 Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind,a refuge from the rain.They will be like streams of water in a dry country,like the shade of a great rock in a parched land.
3 The eyes of those who see will not be closed;the ears of those who hear will be attentive.
4 The hasty of heart shall take thought to know,and tongues of stutterers shall speak readily and clearly.
5 No more will the fool be called noble,nor the deceiver be considered honorable.
6 For the fool speaks folly,his heart plans evil:Godless actions,perverse speech against the Lord,Letting the hungry go emptyand the thirsty without drink.
7 The deceits of the deceiver are evil,he plans devious schemes:To ruin the poor with lies,and the needy when they plead their case.
8 But the noble plan noble deeds,and in noble deeds they persist.
9 You women so complacent, rise up and hear my voice,daughters so confident, give heed to my words.
10 In a little more than a yearyour confidence will be shaken;For the vintage will fail,no fruit harvest will come in.
11 Tremble, you who are so complacent!Shudder, you who are so confident!Strip yourselves bare,with only a loincloth for cover.
12 Beat your breastsfor the pleasant fields,for the fruitful vine;
13 For the soil of my people,overgrown with thorns and briers;For all the joyful houses,the exultant city.
14 The castle will be forsaken,the noisy city deserted;Citadel and tower will become wasteland forever,the joy of wild donkeys, the pasture of flocks;
15 Until the spirit from on highis poured out on us.And the wilderness becomes a garden landand the garden land seems as common as forest.
16 Then judgment will dwell in the wildernessand justice abide in the garden land.
17 The work of justice will be peace;the effect of justice, calm and security forever.
18 My people will live in peaceful country,in secure dwellings and quiet resting places.
19 And the forest will come down completely,the city will be utterly laid low.
20 Happy are you who sow beside every stream,and let the ox and the donkey go freely!