1 B ehold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly.

2 E ach 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.

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

4 T he mind of the hasty will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly.

5 N o longer will the fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.

6 F or 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.

7 A s 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.

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

9 R ise up, you women who are at ease, And hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters.

10 W ithin 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.

11 T remble, you women who are at ease; Be troubled, you complacent daughters; Strip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist,

12 B eat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,

13 F or the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up; Yea, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.

14 B ecause 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;

15 U ntil 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.

16 T hen justice will dwell in the wilderness And righteousness will abide in the fertile field.

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

18 T hen my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;

19 A nd it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low.

20 H ow blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.