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An honest king

32 Look! A king is coming who will rule in a right and fair way.
    Honest leaders will rule under his authority.
Each leader will be like a safe place to hide
    from strong winds and storms.
He will be like streams of water in a desert.
    And he will be like the shadow of a great rock in a hot, dry land.
At that time, everyone who has eyes will be able to see clearly.
    Everyone who has ears will be able to listen well.
People who do things too quickly will stop and think first.
    Those who cannot speak well will be able to talk clearly.
Nobody will praise a stupid person.
    Nobody will respect people who cheat others.
Stupid people say silly things.
    They think of evil things that they can do.
They live in a way that does not respect God.
    The things that they teach about the Lord are false.
They keep food away from hungry people.
    They give no drink to thirsty people.
Cruel people do evil things to deceive others.
    They think of ways that they can cheat their friends.
They tell lies to give trouble to poor people.
    So poor people do not receive the justice that they deserve.
But good people think of ways that they can be kind to others.
    They do the good things that they have decided to do.

A message about Jerusalem's women[a]

You women, listen carefully to what I say to you!
    You think that you have no problems.
    You feel very safe.
But listen to me!
10 Now, you think that you are safe,
    but in one year's time, you will shake with fear.
There will be no grapes at harvest time.
    You will pick no fruit from your trees.
11 You think that you have no problems,
    but you should be afraid.
    Yes, shake with fear!
Take off all your beautiful clothes.
    Tie rough cloth round your legs instead.
12 Weep and hit your breasts,
    because your good fields have no crops,
    and your vines have no grapes.
13 Weep because of what has happened to my people's land.
    Only thorn bushes and weeds grow there.
Weep because there are no longer any happy homes.
    There are no more parties in the city.
14 Nobody will remain in the king's great palace.
    The city that is now full of people will be empty.
The city's hill and its strong buildings
    will become heaps of stones for ever.
Wild donkeys will play in those places,
    and sheep will find grass to eat.
15 It will be like that until God pours a new spirit on us from heaven.
Then, deserts will become fields of fruit trees.
    And fields of fruit trees will seem like forests.
16 Everywhere, people will be honest and fair,
    in the deserts as well as in the fields.
17 People will do things that are right,
    so there will be peace.
    People will always be safe.
18 My people will live safely and quietly in their homes.
    They will not be afraid of trouble.
19 A storm of hail may destroy the forest.
    The buildings in the city may all fall down too.
20 But still the Lord will bless you.
You will plant your seeds beside streams of water.
You will send your cows and donkeys into the fields,
    and they will have plenty of grass to eat.

Footnotes

  1. 32:9 Isaiah warns the women about trouble that will come. This shows the trouble that will come to the cities and towns of Judah.

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)