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.
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
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