GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
1 A king will rule with fairness, and officials will rule with justice.
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See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
2 Then each ruler will be like a shelter from the wind and a hiding place from the rain. They will be like streams on parched ground and the shade of a large rock in a weary land.
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Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.
3 Then the vision of those who can see won't be blurred, and the ears of those who can hear will pay attention.
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Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
4 Then those who are reckless will begin to understand, and those who stutter will speak quickly and clearly.
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The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
5 Godless fools will no longer be called nobles, nor will scoundrels be considered gentlemen.
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No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
6 Godless fools speak foolishness, and their minds plan evil in order to do ungodly things. They speak falsely about the LORD. They let people go hungry and withhold water from thirsty people.
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For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water.
7 The tricks of scoundrels are evil. They devise wicked plans in order to ruin poor people with lies, even when needy people plead for justice.
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Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.
8 But honorable people act honorably and stand firm for what is honorable.
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But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.
9 Get up, and listen to me, you pampered women. Hear what I say, you overconfident daughters.
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You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!
10 In a little less than a year you overconfident women will tremble, because the grape harvest will fail and no fruit will be brought in [from the fields].
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In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come.
11 Shudder, you pampered women. Tremble, you overconfident women. Take off your clothes, walk around naked, and wear sackcloth around your waists.
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Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you daughters who feel secure! Strip off your fine clothes and wrap yourselves in rags.
12 Beat your breasts as you mourn for the fields, for the vines bearing grapes.
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Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines
13 Mourn for my people's land where thorns and briars will grow. Mourn for all the happy homes in a joyful city.
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and for the land of my people, a land overgrown with thorns and briers— yes, mourn for all houses of merriment and for this city of revelry.
14 Palaces will be deserted. Noisy cities will be abandoned. Fortresses and watchtowers will become permanent caves. They will be a delight for wild donkeys and pastures for flocks
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The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,
15 until the Spirit is poured on us from on high. Then the wilderness will be turned into a fertile field, and the fertile field will be considered a forest.
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till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.
16 Then justice will live in the wilderness, and righteousness will be at home in the fertile field.
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The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 Then an act of righteousness will bring about peace, calm, and safety forever.
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The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
18 My people will live in a peaceful place, in safe homes and quiet places of rest.
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My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
19 The forest will be flattened because of hail, and the city will be completely leveled.
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Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely,
20 Blessed are those who plant beside every stream and those who let oxen and donkeys roam freely.
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how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.