Isaiah 32

1Look: a king will reign to bring righteousness, and princes will govern to see justice done. 2Each of them will be a place to hide from the wind and a cover from the downpour, like channels of water in parched ground, like the shade of a great rock in a worn-out land. 3The eyes of the seeing will not be sealed over then, and the ears of the hearing will be alert. 4The hasty mind will come to understand and know, and stammering tongues will be quick to speak plainly. 5No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a swindler be spoken of as honorable. 6For a fool talks foolishness, and his mind works at evil: he behaves godlessly and says twisted things about the LORD, he sends the hungry away still empty and cuts off drink from the thirsty. 7As for the swindler, his tools are crooked; he dreams up schemes to bring the poor to ruin with lying words, even when the needy person pleads what is right. 8The noble, though, makes noble plans, and on what is noble he takes his stand.

9Women living at ease, stand up and hear my voice; daughters so sure of yourselves, listen to my words. 10In a year and some days you will be shaken, you women so sure of yourselves; the vintage will come to nothing, the ingathering will never arrive. 11Tremble, you women at ease; shake, you who feel so secure! Strip off your clothes, lay yourselves bare, and wrap sackcloth around your waists. 12Strike your breasts in mourning over the delightful fields, over the vine that was so fruitful. 13On the soil of my people thornbushes and briers will grow, yes, over all the happy homes of the reveling town. 14For the palace will be deserted, the bustling city left empty; Ophel and the watchtower will be dens for ever, a playground for wild donkeys and grazing land for flocks, 15until the Spirit from on high is poured out upon us, and the wilderness turns into orchard land, and the orchard land is reckoned a forest. 16Justice will make its home in the wilderness, and righteousness will live on in the orchard land. 17What righteousness produces will be peace; what righteousness brings about will be calm and confidence for ever. 18My people will live in a peaceful homeland, in safe dwellings, in resting places free from care. 19Hail will fall as the forest comes crashing down, and the city will be brought low, utterly low. 20How blessed are you who sow beside all the waters and send ox and donkey out to roam free!