A King Will Reign Righteously

1Behold, a king will reign righteously

And princes will rule justly.

2Each will be like a refuge from the wind

And a shelter from the storm,

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

Like the shade of a [†]huge rock in [†]a weary land.

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

And the ears of those who hear will pay attention.

4And the heart of the hasty will discern knowledge,

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

5No longer will the wicked fool be called noble,

Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.

6For a wicked fool speaks wicked folly,

And his heart does wickedness:

To do ungodliness and to speak error against Yahweh,

In order to make the hungry person empty;

He even causes the thirsty to lack a drink.

7As for a rogue, his weapons are evil;

He counsels wicked schemes

To wreak destruction on the afflicted with lying words,

Even though the needy one speaks justly.

8But the noble man counsels noble plans;

And by noble plans he rises up.

9Rise up, you women who are at ease,

And hear my voice;

Give ear to my word,

You complacent daughters.

10Within a year and a few days

You will quake, O complacent daughters;

For the grape harvest is ended,

And the fruit gathering will not come.

11Tremble, you women who are at ease;

Quake, you complacent daughters;

Strip, undress, and put sackcloth on your waist,

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

13For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up,

Indeed, against all the joyful houses and the exultant city.

14Because the palace has been abandoned, the [†]populated city forsaken.

[†]Hill and watchtower have become caves forever,

A joy for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

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

And the wilderness becomes a fruitful orchard,

And the fruitful orchard is counted as a forest.

16Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

And righteousness will live in the fruitful orchard.

17And the work of righteousness will be peace,

And the service of righteousness, quietness and security forever.

18Then my people will live in a peaceful abode,

And 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 [†]let out freely the ox and the donkey.