1
Behold, a aking will reign righteously And princes will rule justly.
2
Each will be like a arefuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like bstreams of water in a dry country, Like the ashade of a huge rock in a parched land.
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Then athe eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen.
4
The mind of the ahasty will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly.
5
No longer will the afool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.
6
For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart ainclines toward wickedness: To practice bungodliness and to speak error against the Lord, To ckeep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.
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As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He adevises wicked schemes To bdestroy the afflicted with slander, cEven though the needy one speaks what is right.
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But athe noble man devises noble plans; And by noble plans he stands.
9
Rise up, you awomen who are at ease, And hear my voice; bGive ear to my word, You complacent daughters.
10
Within a year and a few days You will be troubled, O complacent daughters; aFor the vintage is ended, And the fruit gathering will not come.
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Tremble, you women who are at ease; aBe troubled, you complacent daughters; bStrip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist,
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aBeat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
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aFor the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up; Yea, for all the joyful houses and for the bjubilant city.
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Because athe palace has been abandoned, the populated bcity forsaken. Hill and watch-tower have become ccaves forever, A delight for dwild donkeys, a pasture for flocks;
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Until the aSpirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a bfertile field, And the fertile field is considered as a forest.
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Then ajustice will dwell in the wilderness And righteousness will abide in the fertile field.
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And the awork of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, bquietness and confidence forever.
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Then my people will live in a apeaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed bresting places;
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And it will ahail when the bforest comes down, And cthe city will be utterly laid low.
20
How ablessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.