Isaiah 32

The Glorious Future

1 Behold, a king will reign righteously,

And officials will rule justly.

2 Each will be like a refuge from the wind

And a shelter from the storm,

Like *32:2 Lit canalsstreams of water in a dry country,

Like the shade of a *32:2 Lit heavyhuge rock in an exhausted land.

3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be *32:3 Or turned awayblinded,

And the ears of those who hear will listen.

4 The *32:4 Lit heartmind of the rash will discern the *32:4 Lit knowledgetruth,

And the tongue of the stammerers will hurry to speak clearly.

5 No longer will the fool be called noble,

Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.

6 For a fool speaks nonsense,

And his heart *32:6 Or doesinclines toward wickedness:

To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord,

To *32:6 Lit make empty the hungry soulkeep the hungry person unsatisfied

And *32:6 Lit he deprives the thirstyto withhold drink from the thirsty.

7 As for a rogue, his weapons are evil;

He devises wicked schemes

To destroy the poor with *32:7 Lit words of falsehoodslander,

Even though the needy one speaks *32:7 Lit justlywhat is right.

8 But the noble person devises noble plans;

And by noble plans he stands.

9 Rise up, you women who are at ease,

And hear my voice;

Listen to my word,

You complacent daughters.

10 Within a year and a few days

You will be troubled, you complacent daughters;

For the vintage is ended,

And the fruit gathering will not come.

11 Tremble, you women who are at ease;

Be troubled, you complacent daughters;

Strip, undress, and put sackcloth on your waist,

12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,

13 For the land of my people in which thorns and briars will come up;

Indeed, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.

14 For the palace has been neglected, the *32:14 Lit multitude of thepopulated city abandoned.

* 32:14 Or Ophel Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever,

A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

15 Until 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 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

And righteousness will remain in the fertile field.

17 And the work of righteousness will be peace,

And the service of righteousness, quietness and *32:17 Or securityconfidence forever.

18 Then my people will live in a peaceful settlement,

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 *32:20 Lit send out the foot of the oxlet the ox and the donkey out freely.