A King and His Princes

¹Look—a new era begins!

A king will reign with righteousness,

and his princes according to justice!

²A man will be a hiding place from the stormy wind

and a secret shelter from the tempest.

Life will flow from each one , like streams of water in the desert,

like the refreshing shade of a massive rock

in a weary, thirsty land.

³Then at last, eyes that are ready to see

will finally be opened!

Ears that are ready to hear

will finally be opened!

⁴The hearts of those who were once hasty to form opinions

will finally understand and know.

And those with stammering tongues

will speak dazzling truths!

⁵The fool will no longer be called Your Honor,[#32:5 The Hebrew word for “fool,” nabal , is one of the strongest negative terms used in the Old Testament to describe a person who is “worthless” or “godless.” See 1 Sam. 25:25.]

nor the scoundrel highly respected,

⁶for the fool is recognized by his foolish words.

Their minds plot treachery, they excel in ungodliness,

and they say misleading things about Yahweh .

They refuse to feed the hungry or give drink to the thirsty.

⁷The deceiver’s schemes and plans are evil.[#32:7 Or “weapons.”]

He schemes of cheating the poor,

even when their plea is just.

⁸But a person of honor has honorable plans,

and his integrity gives him security.

A Warning of Disaster

⁹You careless women,

it is time to get up and hear my voice.

You complacent daughters, pay attention to what I say.

¹⁰Although you are carefree now,

you will tremble for many days and years,

for your grape harvest will fail

and your fruit harvest will not come!

¹¹Tremble, you careless ones.

Take off your fine garments and expose yourselves.

Shake with fear and put on sackcloth.

¹²Beat your breasts in sorrow

for your pleasant fields and fruitful vines.

¹³Mourn for the soil of my people,

for it will grow nothing but thorns and briars.

Yes, mourn for all the houses of joy in the joyous city,

¹⁴for the bustling city with its mansions will be deserted.

The high ground and watchtower will be empty,

becoming the joy of wild donkeys and a grazing ground for flocks.

The Outpouring

¹⁵The desolation will not end

until the Spirit is poured out upon us from heaven!

Then the wilderness will blossom into a fruitful orchard

and the trees of the orchard will grow into a forest!

¹⁶Then justice will reside in the wilderness

and righteousness will dwell in the fruitful orchard.

¹⁷The work of righteousness is peace,[#32:17 That is, peace comes from righteousness, not simply the works of man. See Isa. 26:12; Matt. 5:9.]

and the result of righteousness

is quietness and confidence forever.

¹⁸My people will live free from worry

in secure homes and quiet resting places.

¹⁹No matter if hail destroys the forest and the city is leveled,

²⁰you will be happy and blessed

as you sow your seed beside every stream

and loose your ox and donkey to graze freely.