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 parched land.

3Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen.

4The mind of the hasty will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten 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 inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.

7As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He devises wicked schemes To destroy [the] afflicted with slander, Even though [the] needy one speaks what is right.

8But the noble man devises noble plans; And by noble plans he stands.

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 be troubled, O 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 shall come up; Yea, for all the joyful houses [and for] the jubilant city.

14Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. 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 abide in the fertile field.

17And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.

18Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, 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.