• A King Will Reign Righteously

  • 1 Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly.
  • 2 Each 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 weary land.
  • 3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will pay attention.
  • 4 And the heart of the hasty will discern knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly.
  • 5 No longer will the wicked fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.
  • 6 For a wicked fool speaks wicked folly, And his heart does wickedness: To do ungodliness and to speak error against Yahweh, In order to make the hungry person empty; He even causes the thirsty to lack a drink.
  • 7 As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He counsels wicked schemes To wreak destruction on the afflicted with lying words, Even though the needy one speaks justly.
  • 8 But the noble man counsels noble plans; And by noble plans he rises up.
  • 9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, And hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters.
  • 10 Within a year and a few days You will quake, O complacent daughters; For the grape harvest is ended, And the fruit gathering will not come.
  • 11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; Quake, you complacent daughters; Strip, undress, and put sackcloth on your waist,
  • 12 Beat your breasts for the desirable fields, for the fruitful vine,
  • 13 For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up, Indeed, against all the joyful houses and the exultant city.
  • 14 Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watchtower have become caves forever, A joy for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,
  • 15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful orchard, And the fruitful orchard is counted as a forest.
  • 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness will live in the fruitful orchard.
  • 17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and security forever.
  • 18 Then my people will live in a peaceful abode, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;
  • 19 And it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low.
  • 20 How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.