Isaiah 32

1 Listen to this! Some day there will be a righteous king, and his officials will help him to rule justly/fairly.

For, behold, a righteous king shall reign, and princes shall govern with judgment.

2 Each [of them] will be like [MET] a shelter from the wind and a (refuge/place to be protected) from the storm. They will be like [SIM] streams of water in the desert, like the shade under a huge rock in a very hot and dry land.

And a man shall hide his words, and be hidden, as from rushing water, and shall appear in Sion as a rushing river, glorious in a thirsty land.

3 When that happens, [those leaders will enable] people who have not understood [MET] [God’s truth] to understand it, and [they will enable] those who have not paid attention to [MET] [God’s truth] to pay attention to it.

And they shall no more trust in men, but they shall incline their ears to hear.

4 [Even] those who act very hastily will have good sense, and those who cannot speak well will speak fluently and clearly.

And the heart of the weak ones shall attend to hear, and the stammering tongues shall soon learn to speak peace.

5 [At that time], people who are foolish/unwise will no longer be (admired/looked up to), and scoundrels will no longer be respected.

And they shall no more at all tell a fool to rule, and your servants shall no more at all say, Be silent.

6 Foolish people say things that are foolish, and they plan to do evil things. Their behavior is disgraceful, and they say things about Yahweh that are false. They do not give food to those who are hungry, and they do not give water to those who are thirsty.

For the fool shall speak foolish words, and his heart shall meditate vanities, and to perform lawless deeds and to speak error against the Lord, to scatter hungry souls, and he will cause the thirsty souls to be empty.

7 Scoundrels do things that are evil and that deceive people; they plan to do evil things; by telling lies [in court] they cause poor people to (have trouble/be convicted), even when what the poor [people] are requesting is fair/just.

For the counsel of the wicked will devise iniquity, to destroy the poor with unjust words, and ruin the cause of the poor in judgment.

8 But honorable people plan to do honorable/good things, and they do the honorable/good things that they plan to do.

But the godly have devised wise [measures], and this counsel shall stand.

9 You women [of Jerusalem] who think that you are very secure/safe and think that everything is going well, listen to [IDM] what I say!

Rise up, you rich women, and hear my voice; you confident daughters, listen to my words.

10 One year from now, you who now (are not worried about anything/think that everything is going well) will tremble, because there will be no grapes for you to harvest and no [other] crops to harvest.

Remember for a full year in pain, yet with hope: the vintage has been cut off; it has ceased, it shall by no means come again.

11 [So] tremble [now], you women who are not worried about anything! Take off your [fancy] clothes and put rough sackcloth around your waists.

Be amazed, be pained, you confident ones: strip you, bare yourselves, gird your loins;

12 Beat/Hit your breasts to show that you are grieving about [what will happen in] your fertile fields and to your fruitful grapevines,

and beat your breasts, because of the pleasant field, and the fruit of the vine.

13 because [only] thorns and thistles will grow in your soil. Your houses where you had joyful parties and your city where you have been happy will be gone.

[As for] the land of my people, the thorn and grass shall come upon [it], and joy shall be removed from every house.

14 The [king’s] palace will be empty; there will be no people in the city that [now] is very noisy. Wild donkeys will walk around and flocks of sheep will eat grass in the empty forts and watchtowers.

[As for] the rich city, the houses are deserted; they shall abandon the wealth of the city, [and] the pleasant houses: and the villages shall be caves for ever, the joy of wild asses, shepherds' pastures;

15 [It will be like that] until God pours his Spirit out on us from heaven. [When that happens], the deserts will become fertile fields, and abundant crops will grow in those fertile fields.

until the Spirit shall come upon you from on high, and Chermel shall be desert, and Chermel shall be counted for a forest.

16 People [PRS] will act/rule justly/fairly in those desert areas, and people will act/rule righteously in those fertile fields.

Then judgment shall abide in the wilderness, and righteousness shall dwell in Carmel.

17 And the result of their acting righteously will be that there will be peace, the land will be tranquil/quiet, and people will be secure/safe forever.

And the works of righteousness shall be peace; and righteousness shall ensure rest, and [the righteous] shall be confident for ever.

18 My people will live in their homes peacefully, and safely, and calmly, in places of rest.

And his people shall inhabit a city of peace, and dwell in [it] in confidence, and they shall rest with wealth.

19 [Even if a severe] hailstorm knocks down [the trees in] the forest, and [all the buildings in] the city are blown down,

And if the hail should come down, it shall not come upon you; and they that dwell in the forests shall be in confidence, as those in the plain country.

20 Yahweh [will greatly] bless you; you will plant [seeds in fields] alongside the streams [and there will be abundant crops]. Your donkeys and cattle will easily find grass to eat.

Blessed are they that sow by every water, where the ox and ass tread.