Isaiah 32

1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.2 And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a great rock in a weary land.3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.4 And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.5 The fool shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful.6 For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise profaneness, and to utter error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.7 And the instruments of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the meek with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.8 But the noble deviseth noble things; and in noble things shall he continue.9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease, and hear my voice; ye careless daughters, give ear unto my speech.10 For days beyond a year shall ye be troubled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall fail, the ingathering shall not come.11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones; strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.12 They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city.14 For the palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;15 until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest.16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence for ever.18 And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.19 But it shall hail in the downfall of the forest; and the city shall be utterly laid low.20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth the feet of the ox and the ass.

ISAIAH 32

Justice Will Rule

1 A king and his leaders
will rule with justice.

2 They will be a place of safety
from stormy winds,
a stream in the desert,
and a rock that gives shade
from the heat of the sun.

3 Then everyone who has eyes
will open them and see,
and those who have ears
will pay attention.

4 All who are impatient
will take time to think;
everyone who stutters
will talk clearly.

5 Fools will no longer
be highly respected,
and crooks won't be given
positions of honor.

6 Fools talk foolishness.
They always make plans
to do sinful things,
to lie about the [Lord],
to let the hungry starve,
and to keep water from those
who are thirsty.

7 Cruel people tell lies—
they do evil things,
and make cruel plans
to destroy the poor and needy,
even when they beg
for justice.

8 But helpful people
can always be trusted
to make helpful plans.

Punishment for the Women //of Jerusalem

9 Listen to what I say,
you women who are carefree
and careless!

10 You may not have worries now,
but in about a year,
the grape harvest will fail,
and you will tremble.

11 Shake and shudder,
you women without a care!
Strip off your clothes—
put on sackcloth.

12 Slap your breasts in sorrow
because of what happened
to the fruitful fields
and vineyards,

13 and to the happy homes
in Jerusalem.
The land of my people
is covered with thorns.

14 The palace will be deserted,
the crowded city empty.
Fortresses and towers
will forever become
playgrounds for wild donkeys
and pastures for sheep.

God's Spirit //Makes the Difference

15 When the Spirit is given to us
from heaven,
deserts will become orchards
thick as fertile forests.

16 Honesty and justice
will prosper there,

17 and justice will produce
lasting peace and security.

18 You, the [Lord]'s people,
will live in peace,
calm and secure,

19 even if hailstones flatten
forests and cities.

20 You will have God's blessing,
as you plant your crops
beside streams,
while your donkeys and cattle
roam freely about.