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 tempest, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of
a great rock in a weary land. 3 The eyes of those who see shall not be
dim, and the ears of those who hear shall listen. 4 The heart of the rash
shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready
to speak plainly. 5 The fool shall be no more 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
Yahweh, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the
thirsty to fail. 7 The instruments of the churl are evil: he devises
wicked devices to destroy the humble with lying words, even when the needy
speaks right. 8 But the noble devises noble things; and in noble things
shall he continue. 9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, and
hear my voice; you careless daughters, give ear to my speech. 10 For
days beyond a year shall you be troubled, you careless women; for
the vintage shall fail, the harvest shall not come. 11 Tremble, you
women who are at ease; be troubled, you careless ones; strip yourselves,
and make yourselves naked, and gird sackcloth on your loins.
12 They shall strike on the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the
fruitful vine. 13 On the land of my people shall come up thorns and
briers; yes, on all the houses of joy in the joyous city. 14 For the
palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and
the watch-tower shall be for dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture
of flocks; 15 until the Spirit be poured on us from on high, and the
wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a
forest. 16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness
shall abide in the fruitful field. 17 The work of righteousness shall be
peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
18 My people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in safe dwellings,
and in quiet resting-places. 19 But it shall hail in the downfall of the
forest; and the city shall be utterly laid low. 20 Blessed are you
who sow beside all waters, who send forth the feet of the ox and the
donkey.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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