Isaiah 32
32
Righteous rule
1See here: A king rules to promote righteousness;
rulers govern to promote justice,
2each 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.
3Then the eyes of those who can see will no longer be blind,
the ears of those who can hear will listen,
4the minds of the rash will know and comprehend,
and the tongues of those who stammer will speak fluently and plainly.
5Then a fool will no longer be called honorable,
nor a villain considered respectable.
6Fools speak folly;
their minds devise wickedness,
acting irreverently,
speaking falsely of the LORD,
leaving the hungry empty,
and depriving the thirsty of drink.
7As for the villain, his villainies are evil.
He plans schemes to destroy the poor with lying words,
even when the needy speak justly.
8But an honorable person plans honorable things
and stands up for what is honorable.
Warnings to the carefree
9Women of leisure, stand up! Hear my voice!
Carefree daughters, listen to my word!
10In a little over a year,
the carefree will shudder,
because the grape harvest will fail;
the vintage won’t arrive.
11Tremble, 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,
12beating your breasts for the pleasant fields,
for the fruitful vine,
13for my people’s soil
growing barbs and thorns,
for all the joyous houses
in the jubilant town.
14The 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—
15until a spirit from on high
is poured out on us,
and the desert turns into farmland, and the farmland is considered a forest.
16Then justice will reside in wild lands,
and righteousness will abide in farmlands.
17The fruit of righteousness will be peace,
and the outcome of righteousness,
calm and security forever.
18Then my people will live in a peaceful dwelling,
in secure homes, in carefree resting places.
19Even if the forest falls#32.19 Or it will hail when the forest falls
and the humbled city is laid low,
20those who sow beside any stream will be happy,
sending out ox and donkey to graze.
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Isaiah 32
32
Justice Will Rule
1A king and his leaders
will rule with justice.
2They will be a place of safety
from stormy winds,
a stream in the desert,
and a rock that gives shade
from the heat of the sun.
3Then everyone who has eyes
will open them and see,
and those who have ears
will pay attention.
4All who are impatient
will take time to think;
everyone who stutters
will talk clearly.
5Fools will no longer
be highly respected,
and crooks won't be given
positions of honor.
6Fools talk foolishness.
They always make plans
to do sinful things,
to lie about the Lord,
to let the hungry starve,
and to keep water from those
who are thirsty.
7Cruel people tell lies—
they do evil things,
and make cruel plans
to destroy the poor and needy,
even when they beg
for justice.
8But helpful people
can always be trusted
to make helpful plans.
Punishment for the Women of Jerusalem
9Listen to what I say,
you women who are carefree
and careless!
10You may not have worries now,
but in about a year,
the grape harvest will fail,
and you will tremble.
11Shake and shudder,
you women without a care!
Strip off your clothes—
put on sackcloth.
12Slap your breasts in sorrow
because of what happened
to the fruitful fields
and vineyards,
13and to the happy homes
in Jerusalem.
The land of my people
is covered with thorns.
14The palace will be deserted,
the crowded city empty.
Fortresses and towers
will forever become
playgrounds for wild donkeys
and pastures for sheep.
God's Spirit Makes the Difference
15When the Spirit is given to us
from heaven,
deserts will become orchards
thick as fertile forests.
16Honesty and justice
will prosper there,
17and justice will produce
lasting peace and security.
18You, the Lord's people,
will live in peace,
calm and secure,
19even if hailstones flatten
forests and cities.
20You will have God's blessing,
as you plant your crops
beside streams,
while your donkeys and cattle
roam freely about.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.