| 1Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice. | 1Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice. |
| 2Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a rainstorm; like streams of water in a dry region and like the shade of a large cliff in a parched land. | 2Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a rainstorm; like streams of water in a dry region and like the shade of a large cliff in a parched land. |
| 3Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive. | 3Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive. |
| 4The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity. | 4The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity. |
| 5A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled. | 5A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled. |
| 6For a fool speaks disgraceful things; his mind plans out sinful deeds. He commits godless deeds and says misleading things about the LORD; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. | 6For a fool speaks disgraceful things; his mind plans out sinful deeds. He commits godless deeds and says misleading things about the LORD; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. |
| 7A deceiver's methods are evil; he dreams up evil plans to ruin the poor with lies, even when the needy are in the right. | 7A deceiver's methods are evil; he dreams up evil plans to ruin the poor with lies, even when the needy are in the right. |
| 8An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security. | 8An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security. |
| 9You complacent women, get up and listen to me! You carefree daughters, pay attention to what I say! | 9You complacent women, get up and listen to me! You carefree daughters, pay attention to what I say! |
| 10In a year's time you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive. | 10In a year's time you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive. |
| 11Tremble, you complacent ones! Shake with fear, you carefree ones! Strip off your clothes and expose yourselves--put sackcloth on your waist! | 11Tremble, you complacent ones! Shake with fear, you carefree ones! Strip off your clothes and expose yourselves--put sackcloth on your waist! |
| 12Mourn over the field, over the delightful fields and the fruitful vine! | 12Mourn over the field, over the delightful fields and the fruitful vine! |
| 13Mourn over the land of my people, which is overgrown with thorns and briers, and over all the once-happy houses in the city filled with revelry. | 13Mourn over the land of my people, which is overgrown with thorns and briers, and over all the once-happy houses in the city filled with revelry. |
| 14For the fortress is neglected; the once-crowded city is abandoned. Hill and watchtower are permanently uninhabited. Wild donkeys love to go there, and flocks graze there. | 14For the fortress is neglected; the once-crowded city is abandoned. Hill and watchtower are permanently uninhabited. Wild donkeys love to go there, and flocks graze there. |
| 15This desolation will continue until new life is poured out on us from heaven. Then the desert will become an orchard and the orchard will be considered a forest. | 15This desolation will continue until new life is poured out on us from heaven. Then the desert will become an orchard and the orchard will be considered a forest. |
| 16Justice will settle down in the desert and fairness will live in the orchard. | 16Justice will settle down in the desert and fairness will live in the orchard. |
| 17Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security. | 17Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security. |
| 18My people will live in peaceful settlements, in secure homes, and in safe, quiet places. | 18My people will live in peaceful settlements, in secure homes, and in safe, quiet places. |
| 19Even if the forest is destroyed and the city is annihilated, | 19Even if the forest is destroyed and the city is annihilated, |
| 20you will be blessed, you who plant seed by all the banks of the streams, you who let your ox and donkey graze. | 20you will be blessed, you who plant seed by all the banks of the streams, you who let your ox and donkey graze. |
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