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A Good Kingdom Is Coming

32 A king will rule in a way that brings justice,
    and leaders will make fair decisions.
Then each ruler will be like a shelter from the wind,
    like a safe place in a storm,
like streams of water in a dry land,
    like a cool shadow from a large rock in a hot land.

People will look to the king for help,
    and they will truly listen to what he says.
People who are now worried will be able to understand.
    Those who cannot speak clearly now will then be able to speak clearly and quickly.
Fools will not be called great,
    and people will not respect the wicked.
A fool says foolish things,
    and in his mind he plans evil.
A fool does things that are wicked,
    and he says wrong things about the Lord.
A fool does not feed the hungry
    or let thirsty people drink water.
The wicked person uses evil like a tool.
    He plans ways to take everything from the poor.
He destroys the poor with lies,
    even when the poor person is in the right.
But a good leader plans to do good,
    and those good things make him a good leader.

Hard Times Are Coming

You women who are calm now,
    stand up and listen to me.
You women who feel safe now,
    hear what I say.
10 You women feel safe now,
    but after one year you will be afraid.
There will be no grape harvest
    and no summer fruit to gather.
11 Women, you are calm now, but you should shake with fear.
    Women, you feel safe now, but you should tremble.
Take off your nice clothes
    and put rough cloth around your waist to show your sadness.
12 Beat your breasts in grief, because the fields that were pleasant are now empty.
    Cry, because the vines that once had fruit now have no more grapes.
13 Cry for the land of my people,
    in which only thorns and weeds now grow.
Cry for the city that once was happy
    and for all the houses that once were filled with joy.
14 The palace will be empty;
    people will leave the noisy city.
Strong cities and towers will be empty.
    Wild donkeys will love to live there, and sheep will go there to eat.

Things Will Get Better

15 This will continue until God pours his Spirit from above upon us.
    Then the desert will be like a fertile field
    and the fertile field like a forest.
16 Justice will be found even in the desert,
    and fairness will be found in the fertile fields.
17 That fairness will bring peace,
    and it will bring calm and safety forever.
18 My people will live in peaceful places
    and in safe homes
    and in calm places of rest.
19 Hail will destroy the forest,
    and the city will be completely destroyed.
20 But you will be happy as you plant seeds near every stream
    and as you let your cattle and donkeys wander freely.

The Kingdom of Righteousness

32 See, a king(A) will reign in righteousness
    and rulers will rule with justice.(B)
Each one will be like a shelter(C) from the wind
    and a refuge from the storm,(D)
like streams of water(E) in the desert(F)
    and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,(G)
    and the ears(H) of those who hear will listen.
The fearful heart will know and understand,(I)
    and the stammering tongue(J) will be fluent and clear.
No longer will the fool(K) be called noble
    nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
For fools speak folly,(L)
    their hearts are bent on evil:(M)
They practice ungodliness(N)
    and spread error(O) concerning the Lord;
the hungry they leave empty(P)
    and from the thirsty they withhold water.
Scoundrels use wicked methods,(Q)
    they make up evil schemes(R)
to destroy the poor with lies,
    even when the plea of the needy(S) is just.(T)
But the noble make noble plans,
    and by noble deeds(U) they stand.(V)

The Women of Jerusalem

You women(W) who are so complacent,
    rise up and listen(X) to me;
you daughters who feel secure,(Y)
    hear what I have to say!
10 In little more than a year(Z)
    you who feel secure will tremble;
the grape harvest will fail,(AA)
    and the harvest of fruit will not come.
11 Tremble,(AB) you complacent women;
    shudder, you daughters who feel secure!(AC)
Strip off your fine clothes(AD)
    and wrap yourselves in rags.(AE)
12 Beat your breasts(AF) for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vines(AG)
13 and for the land of my people,
    a land overgrown with thorns and briers(AH)
yes, mourn(AI) for all houses of merriment
    and for this city of revelry.(AJ)
14 The fortress(AK) will be abandoned,
    the noisy city deserted;(AL)
citadel and watchtower(AM) will become a wasteland forever,
    the delight of donkeys,(AN) a pasture for flocks,(AO)
15 till the Spirit(AP) is poured on us from on high,
    and the desert becomes a fertile field,(AQ)
    and the fertile field seems like a forest.(AR)
16 The Lord’s justice(AS) will dwell in the desert,(AT)
    his righteousness(AU) live in the fertile field.
17 The fruit of that righteousness(AV) will be peace;(AW)
    its effect will be quietness and confidence(AX) forever.
18 My people will live in peaceful(AY) dwelling places,
    in secure homes,(AZ)
    in undisturbed places of rest.(BA)
19 Though hail(BB) flattens the forest(BC)
    and the city is leveled(BD) completely,
20 how blessed you will be,
    sowing(BE) your seed by every stream,(BF)
    and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.(BG)