Isaiah 32

The Righteous Kingdom Announced

¹Indeed, a king will reign righteously,

and rulers will rule justly. ^a

²Each will be like a shelter from the wind,

a refuge from the rain, ^b

like flowing streams ^c in a dry land

and the shade of a massive rock in an arid land.

³Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,

and the ears of those who hear will listen. ^d

⁴The reckless mind will gain knowledge,

and the stammering tongue ^e will speak clearly and fluently.

⁵A fool will no longer be called a noble, ^f

nor a scoundrel said to be important.

⁶For a fool speaks foolishness

and his mind plots iniquity.

He lives in a godless way

and speaks falsely about the Lord.

He leaves the hungry empty

and deprives the thirsty of drink. ^g

⁷The scoundrel’s weapons are destructive;

he hatches plots to destroy the needy with lies,

even when the poor person says what is right.

⁸But a noble person plans noble things;

he stands up for noble causes.

⁹Stand up, you complacent women; ^h

listen to me.

Pay attention to what I say,

you overconfident daughters.

¹⁰In a little more than a year

you overconfident ones will shudder,

for the grapes will fail

and the harvest will not come.

¹¹Shudder, you complacent ones;

tremble, you overconfident ones!

Strip yourselves bare ⁱ

and put sackcloth around your waists.

¹²Beat your breasts in mourning ^j

for the delightful fields and the fruitful vines, ^k

¹³for the ground of my people

growing thorns and briers, ^l

indeed, for every joyous house in the jubilant city.

¹⁴For the palace will be deserted,

the busy city abandoned.

The hill and the watchtower will become

barren places forever,

the joy of wild donkeys,

and a pasture for flocks,

¹⁵until the Spirit ^m from on high is poured out on us. ⁿ

Then the desert will become an orchard,

and the orchard will seem like a forest. ^o

¹⁶Then justice will inhabit the wilderness,

and righteousness will dwell in the orchard.

¹⁷The result of righteousness will be peace; ^p

the effect of righteousness

will be quiet confidence forever.

¹⁸Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place,

in safe and secure dwellings.

¹⁹But hail will level the forest, ^q,^r

and the city will sink into the depths. ^s

²⁰You will be happy as you sow seed

beside abundant water, ^t

and as you let oxen and donkeys range freely. ^u