| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. | 1See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. |
| 2Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land. | 2Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. |
| 3Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. | 3Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. |
| 4The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently. | 4The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. |
| 5No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a scoundrel be respected. | 5No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. |
| 6For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink. | 6For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water. |
| 7The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. | 7Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. |
| 8But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes. | 8But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand. |
| 9Stand up, you complacent women; listen to me. Give ear to my word, you overconfident daughters. | 9You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! |
| 10In a little more than a year you will tremble, O secure ones. For the grape harvest will fail and the fruit harvest will not arrive. | 10In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come. |
| 11Shudder, you ladies of leisure; tremble, you daughters of complacency. Strip yourselves bare and put sackcloth around your waists. | 11Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you daughters who feel secure! Strip off your fine clothes and wrap yourselves in rags. |
| 12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines, | 12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines |
| 13and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers—even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry. | 13and for the land of my people, a land overgrown with thorns and briers-- yes, mourn for all houses of merriment and for this city of revelry. |
| 14For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks— | 14The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, |
| 15until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest. | 15till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. |
| 16Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field. | 16The LORD's justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. |
| 17The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever. | 17The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. |
| 18Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure places of rest. | 18My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. |
| 19But hail will level the forest, and the city will sink to the depths. | 19Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, |
| 20Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters, who let the ox and donkey range freely. | 20how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free. |
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