1  Behold, ^oa king will reign in righteousness,

and princes will rule in justice.

2  ^pEach will be like a hiding place from the wind,

a shelter from the storm,

^qlike streams of water in a dry place,

like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

3  ^rThen the eyes of those who see will not be closed,

and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

4  The heart of the hasty will understand and know,

^sand the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.

5  ^tThe fool will no more be called noble,

nor the scoundrel said to be honorable.

6  For ^uthe fool speaks folly,

and his heart is busy with iniquity,

to practice ungodliness,

to utter error concerning the Lord,

^vto leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,

and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

7  As for the scoundrel—^whis devices are evil;

he plans wicked schemes

to ruin the poor with lying words,

even when the plea of the needy is right.

8  But he who is noble plans noble things,

and on noble things he stands.

9  ^xRise up, you women ^ywho are at ease, hear my voice;

you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.

10  In little more than a year

you will shudder, you complacent women;

for the grape harvest fails,

the fruit harvest will not come.

11  Tremble, you women ^ywho are at ease,

shudder, you complacent ones;

^zstrip, and make yourselves bare,

^aand tie sackcloth around your waist.

12  ^bBeat your breasts for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vine,

13  ^cfor the soil of my people

growing up in thorns and briers,

^dyes, for all the joyous houses

in the exultant city.

14  For the palace is forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens forever,

^ea joy of wild donkeys,

a pasture of flocks;

15  until ^fthe Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

and ^gthe wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

16  Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.

17  ^hAnd the effect of righteousness will be peace,

and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust¹ forever.

18  My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,

in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

19  ⁱAnd it will hail when the forest falls down,

^jand the city will be utterly laid low.

20  ^kHappy are you who sow beside all waters,

who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.