Isaiah 32

The Kingdom of Righteousness

See, a king^a will reign in righteousness

and rulers will rule with justice.^b

Each 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.

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

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

The fearful heart will know and understand,ⁱ

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

No longer will the fool^k be called noble

nor the scoundrel be highly respected.

For 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.

Scoundrels 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

But the noble make noble plans,

and by noble deeds^u they stand.^v

The Women of Jerusalem

You women^a who are so complacent,

rise up and listen^b to me;

you daughters who feel secure,^c

hear what I have to say!

In little more than a year^d

you who feel secure will tremble;

the grape harvest will fail,^e

and the harvest of fruit will not come.

Tremble,^f you complacent women;

shudder, you daughters who feel secure!^g

Strip off your clothes,^h

put sackclothⁱ around your waists.

Beat your breasts^j for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vines^k

and for the land of my people,

a land overgrown with thorns and briers^l—

yes, mourn^m for all houses of merriment

and for this city of revelry.ⁿ

The fortress^o will be abandoned,

the noisy city deserted;^p

citadel and watchtower^q will become a wasteland forever,

the delight of donkeys,^r a pasture for flocks,^s

till the Spirit^t is poured on us from on high,

and the desert becomes a fertile field,^u

and the fertile field seems like a forest.^v

The Lord’s justice^w will dwell in the desert,^x

his righteousness^y live in the fertile field.

The fruit of that righteousness^z will be peace;^a

its effect will be quietness and confidence^b forever.

My people will live in peaceful^c dwelling places,

in secure homes,^d

in undisturbed places of rest.^e

Though hail^f flattens the forest^g

and the city is leveled^h completely,

how blessed you will be,

sowingⁱ your seed by every stream,^j

and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.^k