A Reign of Righteousness
Behold, aa king will reign in righteousness,
And princes will rule with justice.
2 A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,
And aa cover from the tempest,
As rivers of water in a dry place,
As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
3 aThe eyes of those who see will not be dim,
And the ears of those who hear will listen.
4 Also the heart of the rash will aunderstand knowledge,
And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.
5 The foolish person will no longer be called generous,
Nor the miser said to be bountiful;
6 For the foolish person will speak foolishness,
And his heart will work ainiquity:
To practice ungodliness,
To utter error against the Lord,
To keep the hungry unsatisfied,
And he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
7 Also the schemes of the schemer are evil;
He devises wicked plans
To destroy the poor with alying words,
Even when the needy speaks justice.
8 But a generous man devises generous things,
And by generosity he shall stand.
Consequences of Complacency
9 Rise up, you women awho are at ease,
Hear my voice;
You complacent daughters,
Give ear to my speech.
10 In a year and some days
You will be troubled, you complacent women;
For the vintage will fail,
The gathering will not come.
11 Tremble, you women who are at ease;
Be troubled, you complacent ones;
Strip yourselves, make yourselves bare,
And gird sackcloth on your waists.
12 People shall mourn upon their breasts
For the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
13 aOn the land of my people will come up thorns and briers,
Yes, on all the happy homes in bthe joyous city;
14 aBecause the palaces will be forsaken,
The bustling city will be deserted.
The forts and towers will become lairs forever,
A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks—
15 Until athe Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
And bthe wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
The Peace of God’s Reign
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
And righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
17 aThe work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet aresting places,
19 aThough hail comes down bon the forest,
And the city is brought low in humiliation.
20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters,
Who send out freely the feet of athe ox and the donkey.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.