[1] See here: A king rules to promote righteousness; rulers govern to promote justice, [2] each like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a storm, like streams of water in a wasteland, like the shade of a massive cliff in a worn-out land. [3] Then the eyes of those who can see will no longer be blind, the ears of those who can hear will listen, [4] the minds of the rash will know and comprehend, and the tongues of those who stammer will speak fluently and plainly. [5] Then a fool will no longer be called honorable, nor a villain considered respectable. [6] Fools speak folly; their minds devise wickedness, acting irreverently, speaking falsely of the LORD, leaving the hungry empty, and depriving the thirsty of drink. [7] As for the villain, his villainies are evil. He plans schemes to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speak justly. [8] But an honorable person plans honorable things and stands up for what is honorable. [9] Women of leisure, stand up! Hear my voice! Carefree daughters, listen to my word! [10] In a little over a year, the carefree will shudder, because the grape harvest will fail; the vintage won’t arrive. [11] Tremble, all of you who are at ease; shudder, all of you who are secure! Strip yourselves, bare your skin, and tie mourning clothes around your waist, [12] beating your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine, [13] for my people’s soil growing barbs and thorns, for all the joyous houses in the jubilant town. [14] The palace will be deserted, the crowded city abandoned. Stronghold and watchtower will become empty fields forever, suited for the pleasure of wild donkeys, and a pasture for flocks— [15] until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the desert turns into farmland, and the farmland is considered a forest. [16] Then justice will reside in wild lands, and righteousness will abide in farmlands. [17] The fruit of righteousness will be peace, and the outcome of righteousness, calm and security forever. [18] Then my people will live in a peaceful dwelling, in secure homes, in carefree resting places. [19] Even if the forest falls and the humbled city is laid low, [20] those who sow beside any stream will be happy, sending out ox and donkey to graze.
