Isaiah 32
32
Leaders Should Be Good and Fair
1Listen to what I say! A king should rule in a way that brings justice. Leaders should make fair decisions when they lead the people. 2If this would happen, the king#32:2 king Literally, “man.” would be like a shelter to hide from the wind and rain, like streams of water in a dry land, and like the cool shadow of a large rock in a hot land. 3Then people would actually see what they look at. They would actually listen to what they hear. 4People who are now confused would be able to understand. Those who cannot speak clearly now would be able to speak clearly and quickly. 5Fools would not be called great men. People would not respect men who make secret plans.
6Fools#32:6 Fools Here, this means people who don’t follow God and his wise teachings. say foolish things, and in their minds they plan evil things to do. They want to do what is wrong. They say bad things about the Lord. They don’t let hungry people eat their food. They don’t let thirsty people drink the water. 7They use evil like a tool and plan ways to steal from the poor. They tell lies about the poor and keep them from being judged fairly.
8But a good leader plans good things to do, and that will make him a leader over other leaders.
Hard Times Are Coming
9Some of you women are calm now; you feel safe. But you should stand and listen to the words I say. 10You feel safe now, but after one year you will be troubled. That is because you will not gather grapes next year—there will be no grapes to gather.
11Women, you are calm now, but you should be afraid. You feel safe now, but you should be worried. Take off your nice clothes and put on sackcloth. Wrap it around your waist. 12Beat your breasts in sorrow. Cry because your fields are empty. Your vineyards once gave grapes, but now they are empty. 13Cry for the land of my people. Cry because only thorns and weeds will grow there. Cry for the city and for all the houses that were once filled with joy.
14People will leave the capital city. The palace and towers will be left empty. People will not live in houses—they will live in caves. Wild donkeys and sheep will live in the city—animals will go there to eat grass.
15This will continue until God gives us his Spirit from above. Then the desert will become rich farmland and the farmland will be like thick forests. 16That is, what is now a desert will be filled with right decisions, and what is now a farmland will be filled with justice. 17That justice will bring peace and safety forever. 18My people will be safe in their homes and in their calm, peaceful fields.
19But before this happens, the forest must fall and the city must be torn down. 20Some of you live away from the cities. You plant seeds by every stream and let your cattle and donkeys roam free. You will be very blessed.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Isaiah 32
32
A Righteous King
1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
and princes will rule with justice.
2Each will be like a shelter from the wind,
a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry land,
like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.
3Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.
4The mind of the rash will know and understand,
and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently.
5No longer will a fool be called noble,
nor a scoundrel be respected.
6For a fool speaks foolishness;
his mind plots iniquity.
He practices ungodliness
and speaks falsely about the Lord;
he leaves the hungry empty
and deprives the thirsty of drink.
7The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive;
he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies,
even when the plea of the needy is just.
8But a noble man makes honorable plans;
he stands up for worthy causes.
The Women of Jerusalem
9Stand up, you complacent women;
listen to me.
Give ear to my word,
you overconfident daughters.
10In a little more than a year you will tremble,
O secure ones.
For the grape harvest will fail
and the fruit harvest will not arrive.
11Shudder, you ladies of leisure;
tremble, you daughters of complacency.
Strip yourselves bare
and put sackcloth around your waists.
12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
for the fruitful vines,
13and for the land of my people,
overgrown with thorns and briers—
even for every house of merriment
in this city of revelry.
14For the palace will be forsaken,
the busy city abandoned.
The hill #32:14 Hebrew the Ophel and the watchtower will become caves forever—
the delight of wild donkeys
and a pasture for flocks—
15until the Spirit is poured out
upon us from on high.
Then the desert will be an orchard,
and the orchard will seem like a forest.
16Then justice will inhabit the wilderness,
and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field.
17The work of righteousness will be peace;
the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.
18Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place,
in safe and secure places of rest.
19But hail will level the forest,
and the city will sink to the depths.
20Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters,
who let the ox and donkey range freely.
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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.