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.
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 32: CEV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 32
32
The Righteous Kingdom Announced
1Indeed, a king will reign righteously,
and rulers will rule justly.#Ps 72:1–4; Is 9:6–7; 11:4–5; Jr 23:5; Zch 9:9; 14:9
2Each will be like a shelter from the wind,
a refuge from the rain,#Is 4:6; 25:4
like flowing streams#Is 30:25 in a dry land
and the shade of a massive rock in an arid land.
3Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.#Is 6:10; 29:18
4The reckless mind will gain knowledge,
and the stammering tongue#Is 33:19 will speak clearly and fluently.
5A fool will no longer be called a noble,#Ps 107:40; 118:9; 146:3
nor a scoundrel said to be important.
6For a fool speaks foolishness
and his mind plots iniquity.
He lives in a godless way
and speaks falsely about the Lord.
He leaves the hungry empty
and deprives the thirsty of drink.#Is 3:15; 10:2
7The scoundrel’s weapons are destructive;
he hatches plots to destroy the needy with lies,
even when the poor person says what is right.
8But a noble person plans noble things;
he stands up for noble causes.
9Stand up, you complacent women;#Is 47:8; Am 6:1; Zph 2:15
listen to me.
Pay attention to what I say,
you overconfident daughters.
10In a little more than a year
you overconfident ones will shudder,
for the grapes will fail
and the harvest will not come.
11Shudder, you complacent ones;
tremble, you overconfident ones!
Strip yourselves bare#Is 47:2–3
and put sackcloth around your waists.
12Beat your breasts in mourning#Nah 2:7
for the delightful fields and the fruitful vines,#Mk 14:25
13for the ground of my people
growing thorns and briers,#Is 5:6; 7:23–25; 9:18; 27:4
indeed, for every joyous house in the jubilant city.
14For the palace will be deserted,
the busy city abandoned.
The hill and the watchtower will become
barren places forever,
the joy of wild donkeys,
and a pasture for flocks,
15until the Spirit#32:15 Or a wind from on high is poured out on us.#Is 11:2; 44:3; 59:21; Ezk 39:29; Jl 2:28
Then the desert will become an orchard,
and the orchard will seem like a forest.#Is 29:17; 35:1–2
16Then justice will inhabit the wilderness,
and righteousness will dwell in the orchard.
17The result of righteousness will be peace;#Ps 72:2–3; 85:8; 119:165; Is 2:4; Rm 14:17; Jms 3:18
the effect of righteousness
will be quiet confidence forever.
18Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place,
in safe and secure dwellings.
19But hail will level the forest,#32:19 Hb obscure#Is 28:2,17; 30:30
and the city will sink into the depths.#Is 24:10,12; 26:5; 27:10; 29:4
20You will be happy as you sow seed
beside abundant water,#Nm 24:7; Ec 11:1; Is 30:23–24
and as you let oxen and donkeys range freely.#Is 30:24
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers