Isaiah 32

The Kingdom of Righteousness

32See, a king^a will reign in righteousness

and rulers will rule with justice.^b

²Each one will be like a shelter^c from the wind

and a refuge from the storm,^d

like streams of water^e in the desert^f

and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

³Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,^g

and the ears^h of those who hear will listen.

⁴The fearful heart will know and understand,ⁱ

and the stammering tongue^j will be fluent and clear.

⁵No longer will the fool^k be called noble

nor the scoundrel be highly respected.

⁶For fools speak folly,^l

their hearts are bent on evil:^m

They practice ungodlinessⁿ

and spread error^o concerning the Lord;

the hungry they leave empty^p

and from the thirsty they withhold water.

⁷Scoundrels use wicked methods,^q

they make up evil schemes^r

to destroy the poor with lies,

even when the plea of the needy^s is just.^t

⁸But the noble make noble plans,

and by noble deeds^u they stand.^v

The Women of Jerusalem

⁹You women^w who are so complacent,

rise up and listen^x to me;

you daughters who feel secure,^y

hear what I have to say!

¹⁰In little more than a year^z

you who feel secure will tremble;

the grape harvest will fail,^a

and the harvest of fruit will not come.

¹¹Tremble,^b you complacent women;

shudder, you daughters who feel secure!^c

Strip off your fine clothes^d

and wrap yourselves in rags.^e

¹²Beat your breasts^f for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vines^g

¹³and for the land of my people,

a land overgrown with thorns and briers^h—

yes, mournⁱ for all houses of merriment

and for this city of revelry.^j

¹⁴The fortress^k will be abandoned,

the noisy city deserted;^l

citadel and watchtower^m will become a wasteland forever,

the delight of donkeys,ⁿ a pasture for flocks,^o

¹⁵till the Spirit^p is poured on us from on high,

and the desert becomes a fertile field,^q

and the fertile field seems like a forest.^r

¹⁶The Lord’s justice^s will dwell in the desert,^t

his righteousness^u live in the fertile field.

¹⁷The fruit of that righteousness^v will be peace;^w

its effect will be quietness and confidence^x forever.

¹⁸My people will live in peaceful^y dwelling places,

in secure homes,^z

in undisturbed places of rest.^a

¹⁹Though hail^b flattens the forest^c

and the city is leveled^d completely,

²⁰how blessed you will be,

sowing^e your seed by every stream,^f

and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.^g