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A Righteous King

¹ Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.² Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, and the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.³ Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.⁴ The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently.⁵ No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a scoundrel said to be important.⁶ For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink.⁷ The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.⁸ But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.

The Women of Jerusalem

⁹ Stand up, you complacent women; listen to me. Give ear to my word, you overconfident daughters.¹⁰ In a little more than a year you will tremble, O secure ones. For the grape harvest will fail and the fruit harvest will not arrive.¹¹ Shudder, you ladies of leisure; tremble, you daughters of complacency. Strip yourselves bare and put sackcloth around your waists.¹² Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines,¹³ and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers—even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry.¹⁴ For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—¹⁵ until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest.¹⁶ Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field.¹⁷ The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.¹⁸ Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure places of rest.¹⁹ But hail will level the forest, and the city will sink to the depths.²⁰ Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters, who let the ox and donkey range freely.