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Behold, a ^(C1)king will reign righteously, And officials will rule justly.

Each will be like a ^(C1)refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like ^(F1)(C2)streams of water in a dry country, Like the ^(C1)shade of a ^(F2)huge rock in an exhausted land.

Then ^(C1)the eyes of those who see will not be ^(F1)blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen.

The ^(F1)mind of the ^(C1)rash will discern the ^(F2)truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hurry to speak clearly.

No longer will the ^(C1)fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.

For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart ^(F1)(C1)inclines toward wickedness: To practice ^(C2)ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To ^(F2)(C3)keep the hungry person unsatisfied And ^(F3)to withhold drink from the thirsty.

As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He ^(C1)devises wicked schemes To ^(C2)destroy the poor with ^(F1)slander, ^(C3)Even though the needy one speaks ^(F2)what is right.

But ^(C1)the noble person devises noble plans; And by noble plans he stands.

Rise up, you ^(C1)women who are at ease, And hear my voice; ^(C2)Listen to my word, You complacent daughters.

Within a year and a few days You will be troubled, you complacent daughters; ^(C1)For the vintage is ended, And the fruit gathering will not come.

Tremble, you women who are at ease; ^(C1)Be troubled, you complacent daughters; ^(C2)Strip, undress, and put sackcloth on your waist,

^(C1)Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,

^(C1)For the land of my people in which thorns and briars will come up; Indeed, for all the joyful houses and for the ^(C2)jubilant city.

For ^(C1)the palace has been neglected, the ^(F1)populated ^(C2)city abandoned. ^(F2)Hill and watch-tower have become ^(C3)caves forever, A delight for ^(C4)wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

Until the ^(C1)Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a ^(C2)fertile field, And the fertile field is considered as a forest.

Then ^(C1)justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness will remain in the fertile field.

And the ^(C1)work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, ^(C2)quietness and ^(F1)confidence forever.

Then my people will live in a ^(C1)peaceful settlement, In secure dwellings, and in undisturbed ^(C2)resting places;

And it will ^(C1)hail when the ^(C2)forest comes down, And ^(C3)the city will be utterly laid low.

How ^(C1)blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who ^(F1)let the ox and the donkey out freely.