The Righteous Kingdom Announced
1Indeed, a king will reign righteously,
and rulers will rule justly.
2Each will be like a shelter from the wind,
a refuge from the rain,
like flowing streams in a dry land
and the shade of a massive rock in an arid land.
3Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.
4The reckless mind will gain knowledge,
and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently.
5A fool will no longer be called a noble,
nor a scoundrel said to be important.
6For a fool speaks foolishness
and his mind plots iniquity.
He lives in a godless way
and speaks falsely about the Lord.
He leaves the hungry empty
and deprives the thirsty of drink.
7The scoundrel’s weapons are destructive;
he hatches plots to destroy the needy with lies,
even when the poor person says what is right.
8But a noble person plans noble things;
he stands up for noble causes.
9Stand up, you complacent women;
listen to me.
Pay attention to what I say,
you overconfident daughters.
10In a little more than a year
you overconfident ones will shudder,
for the grapes will fail
and the harvest will not come.
11Shudder, you complacent ones;
tremble, you overconfident ones!
Strip yourselves bare
and put sackcloth around your waists.
12Beat your breasts in mourning
for the delightful fields and the fruitful vines,
13for the ground of my people
growing thorns and briers,
indeed, for every joyous house in the jubilant city.
14For the palace will be deserted,
the busy city abandoned.
The hill and the watchtower will become
barren places forever,
the joy of wild donkeys,
and a pasture for flocks,
15until the Spirit from on high is poured out on us.
Then the desert will become an orchard,
and the orchard will seem like a forest.
16Then justice will inhabit the wilderness,
and righteousness will dwell in the orchard.
17The result of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness
will be quiet confidence forever.
18Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place,
in safe and secure dwellings.
19But hail will level the forest,
and the city will sink into the depths.
20You will be happy as you sow seed
beside abundant water,
and as you let oxen and donkeys range freely.