Isaiah 32
32
The King Who Will Do What Is Right
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 forever.
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 forever.
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.
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Isaiah 32: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Isaiah 32
32
A King with Integrity
1Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice. 2Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a place to hide from storms. They will be like streams flowing in a desert, like the shadow of a giant rock in a barren land. 3Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people. 4They will not be impatient any longer, but they will act with understanding and will say what they mean. 5No one will think that a fool is honourable or say that a scoundrel is honest. 6A fool speaks foolishly and thinks up evil things to do. What he does and what he says are an insult to the LORD, and he never feeds the hungry or gives thirsty people anything to drink. 7A stupid person is evil and does evil things; he plots to ruin the poor with lies and to prevent them getting their rights. 8But an honourable person acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.
Judgement and Restoration
9You women who live an easy life, free from worries, listen to what I am saying. 10You may be satisfied now, but this time next year you will be in despair because there will be no grapes for you to gather. 11You have been living an easy life, free from worries; but now, tremble with fear! Strip off your clothes and tie rags round your waist. 12Beat your breasts in grief because the fertile fields and the vineyards have been destroyed, 13and thorn bushes and briars are growing on my people's land. Weep for all the houses where people were happy and for the city that was full of life. 14Even the palace will be abandoned and the capital city totally deserted. Homes and the forts that guarded them will be in ruins for ever. Wild donkeys will roam there, and sheep will find pasture there.
15But once more God will send us his Spirit. The waste land will become fertile, and fields will produce rich crops. 16Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done. 17Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security for ever. 18God's people will be free from worries, and their homes peaceful and safe. 19(But hail will fall on the forests, and the city will be torn down.) 20How happy everyone will be with plenty of water for the crops and safe pasture everywhere for the donkeys and cattle.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.