1Behold, a king will reign righteously,

And officials will rule justly.

2Each will be like a refuge from the wind

And a shelter from the storm,

Like [a]streams of water in a dry country,

Like the shade of a [b]huge rock in an exhausted land.

3Then the eyes of those who see will not be [c]blinded,

And the ears of those who hear will listen.

4The [d]mind of the rash will discern the [e]truth,

And the tongue of the stammerers will hurry to speak clearly.

5No longer will the fool be called noble,

Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.

6For a fool speaks nonsense,

And his heart [f]inclines toward wickedness:

To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD,

To [g]keep the hungry person unsatisfied

And [h]to withhold drink from the thirsty.

7As for a rogue, his weapons are evil;

He devises wicked schemes

To destroy the poor with [i]slander,

Even though the needy one speaks [j]what is right.

8But the noble person devises noble plans;

And by noble plans he stands.

9Rise up, you women who are at ease,

And hear my voice;

Listen to my word,

You complacent daughters.

10Within a year and a few days

You will be troubled, you complacent daughters;

For the vintage is ended,

And the fruit gathering will not come.

11Tremble, you women who are at ease;

Be troubled, you complacent daughters;

Strip, undress, and put sackcloth on your waist,

12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,

13For the land of my people in which thorns and briars will come up;

Indeed, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.

14For the palace has been neglected, the [k]populated city abandoned.

[l]Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever,

A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

15Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high,

And the wilderness becomes a fertile field,

And the fertile field is considered as a forest.

16Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

And righteousness will remain in the fertile field.

17And the work of righteousness will be peace,

And the service of righteousness, quietness and [m]confidence forever.

18Then my people will live in a peaceful settlement,

In secure dwellings, and in undisturbed resting places;

19And it will hail when the forest comes down,

And the city will be utterly laid low.

20How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters,

Who [n]let the ox and the donkey out freely.