Study Desk

Indeed, a king will reign righteously, and rulers will rule justly.^(a)

Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the rain,^(b) like streams of water^(c) in a dry land and the shade of a massive rock in an arid land.

Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.^(d)

The reckless mind will gain knowledge, and the stammering tongue^(e) will speak clearly and fluently.

A fool will no longer be called a noble,^(f) nor a scoundrel said to be important.

For 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)

The scoundrel's weapons are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the needy with lies, even when the poor says what is right.

But a noble person plans noble things; he stands up for noble causes.

Stand up, you complacent women;^(h) listen to me. Pay attention to what I say, you overconfident daughters.

In a little more than a year you overconfident ones will shudder, for the vintage will fail and the harvest will not come.

Shudder, you complacent ones; tremble, you overconfident ones! Strip yourselves bare⁽ⁱ⁾ and put sackcloth around your waists.

Beat your breasts in mourning^(j) for the delightful fields and the fruitful vines,^(k)

for the ground of my people growing thorns and briers,^(l) indeed, for every joyous house in the joyful city.

For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become barren places forever, the joy of wild donkeys, and a pasture for flocks,

until the Spirit from heaven is poured out on us.^(m) Then the desert will become an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest.⁽ⁿ⁾

Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the orchard.

The result of righteousness will be peace;^(o) the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.

Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure dwellings.

But hail will level the forest,^[a](p) and the city will sink into the depths.^(q)

Those who sow seed are happy beside abundant waters;^(r) they let ox and donkey range freely.^(s)

Woe, you destroyer never destroyed, you traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, they will betray you.^(a)

Lord , be gracious to us! We wait for You.^(b) Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.^(c)

The peoples flee at the thunderous noise;^(d) the nations scatter when You rise in Your majesty.

Your spoil will be gathered as locusts are gathered; people will swarm over it like an infestation of locusts.

The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

There will be times of security for you— a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.^(e)

Listen! Their warriors cry loudly in the streets; the messengers of peace weep bitterly.^(f)

The highways are deserted; travel has ceased. An agreement has been broken,^(g) cities^[a] despised, and human life disregarded.

The land mourns and withers;^(h) Lebanon is ashamed and decayed. Sharon is like a desert; Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.

"Now I will rise up,"⁽ⁱ⁾ says the Lord . "Now I will lift Myself up. Now I will be exalted.

You will conceive chaff;^(j) you will give birth to stubble. Your breath is fire that will consume you.

The peoples will be burned to ashes, like thorns cut down and burned in a fire.

You who are far off, hear what I have done; you who are near,^(k) know My strength."

The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the ungodly: "Who among us can dwell with a consuming fire?^(l) Who among us can dwell with ever-burning flames?"

The one who lives righteously and speaks rightly,^(m) who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears from listening to murderous plots^[b] and shuts his eyes to avoid endorsing evil^[c](n)—

he will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be the rocky fortresses, his food provided, his water assured.

Your eyes will see the King in His beauty;^(o) you will see a vast land.^(p)

Your mind will meditate on the past terror: "Where is the accountant?^[d] Where is the tribute collector?^[e] Where is the one who spied out our defenses?"^[f]

You will no longer see the barbarians, a people whose speech is difficult to comprehend— who stammer in a language that is not understood.^(q)

Look at Zion, the city of our festival times. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful pasture,^(r) a tent that does not wander; its tent pegs will not be pulled up nor will any of its cords be loosened.^(s)

For the majestic One, our Lord , will be there,^(t) a place of rivers and broad streams where ships that are rowed will not go, and majestic vessels will not pass.^(u)

For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our lawgiver,^(v) the Lord is our King. He will save us.^(w)

Your ropes are slack; they cannot hold the base of the mast or spread out the flag. Then abundant spoil will be divided, the lame will plunder it,

and none there will say, "I am sick." The people who dwell there will be forgiven^(x) their iniquity.^(y)