A King Will Reign in Righteousness

1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,

and princes will rule in justice.

2Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,

a shelter from the storm,

like streams of water in a dry place,

like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

3Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,

and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

4The heart of the hasty will understand and know,

and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.

5The fool will no more be called noble,

nor the scoundrel said to be honourable.

6For the fool speaks folly,

and his heart is busy with iniquity,

to practise ungodliness,

to utter error concerning the LORD,

to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,

and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

7As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil;

he plans wicked schemes

to ruin the poor with lying words,

even when the plea of the needy is right.

8But he who is noble plans noble things,

and on noble things he stands.

Complacent Women Warned of Disaster

9Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice;

you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.

10In little more than a year

you will shudder, you complacent women;

for the grape harvest fails,

the fruit harvest will not come.

11Tremble, you women who are at ease,

shudder, you complacent ones;

strip, and make yourselves bare,

and tie sackcloth round your waist.

12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vine,

13for the soil of my people

growing up in thorns and briers,

yes, for all the joyous houses

in the exultant city.

14For the palace is forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens for ever,

a joy of wild donkeys,

a pasture of flocks;

15until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

16Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.

17And the effect of righteousness will be peace,

and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust32:17 Or security for ever.

18My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,

in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.

19And it will hail when the forest falls down,

and the city will be utterly laid low.

20Happy are you who sow beside all waters,

who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.