1A king will come who will do what is right. His officials will govern fairly.2Each official will be like a place to get out of the wind. He will be like a place to hide from storms. He’ll be like streams of water flowing in the desert. He’ll be like the shadow of a huge rock in a dry and thirsty land.3Then the eyes of those who see won’t be closed anymore. The ears of those who hear will listen to the truth.4People who are afraid will know and understand. Tongues that stutter will speak clearly.5Foolish people won’t be considered noble anymore. Those who are worthless won’t be highly respected.6Foolish people say foolish things. Their minds are set on doing evil things. They don’t do what is right. They tell lies about the LORD. They don’t give hungry people any food. They don’t let thirsty people have any water.7Those who are worthless use sinful methods. They make evil plans against poor people. They destroy them with their lies. They do it even when those people are right.8But those who are noble make noble plans. And by doing noble things they succeed.
The sinful women in Jerusalem
9You women who are so contented, pay attention to me. You who feel so secure, listen to what I have to say.10You feel secure now. But in a little over a year you will tremble with fear. The grape harvest will fail. There won’t be any fruit.11So tremble, you contented women. Tremble with fear, you who feel so secure. Take off your fine clothes. Wrap yourselves in rags.12Beat your chests to show how sad you are. The pleasant fields have been destroyed. The fruitful vines have dried up.13My people’s land is overgrown with thorns and bushes. Mourn for all the houses that were once filled with joy. Cry over this city that used to be full of wild parties.14The royal palace will be left empty. The noisy city will be deserted. The fort and lookout tower will become a dry and empty desert for ever. Donkeys will enjoy being there. Flocks will eat there.15That will continue until the Holy Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the desert will be turned into rich farm lands. The rich farm lands will seem like a forest.16In the desert, the LORD will make sure people do what is right. In the rich farm lands he will make sure they treat one another fairly.17Doing what is right will bring peace and rest. When my people do that, they will stay calm and trust in the LORD for ever.18They will live in a peaceful land. Their homes will be secure. They will enjoy peace and quiet.19Hail might strip the forests bare. Cities might be completely destroyed.20But how blessed you people will be! You will plant your seeds by every stream. You will let your cattle and donkeys wander anywhere they want to.
Isaiah 32
English Standard Version
A King Will Reign in Righteousness
1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. (Ps 72:1; Ps 72:4; Isa 11:1; Jer 23:5)2Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. (Isa 4:6; Isa 25:4; Isa 33:21)3Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention. (Isa 29:18)4The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly. (Isa 35:6)5The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable. (Isa 5:20)6For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink. (1Sa 24:13; Isa 3:14)7As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right. (Mic 2:1)8But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.
Complacent Women Warned of Disaster
9Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. (Isa 3:16; Am 6:1)10In little more than a year you will shudder, you complacent women; for the grape harvest fails, the fruit harvest will not come.11Tremble, you women who are at ease, shudder, you complacent ones; strip, and make yourselves bare, and tie sackcloth around your waist. (Ge 37:34; Isa 32:9; Isa 47:2)12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine, (Isa 24:7)13for the soil of my people growing up in thorns and briers, yes, for all the joyous houses in the exultant city. (Isa 7:23; Isa 24:11; Isa 34:13; Ho 9:6)14For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; (Jer 2:24)15until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. (Isa 11:2; Isa 29:17; Isa 35:1; Joe 2:28)16Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.17And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust[1] forever. (Ps 72:3; Ps 119:165; Isa 1:27; Jas 3:18)18My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.19And it will hail when the forest falls down, and the city will be utterly laid low. (Isa 26:5; Isa 28:2; Isa 28:17)20Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free. (Ec 11:1; Isa 30:23)