Common English Bible w/ Apocrypha CEBA
New International Version NIV
1 See here: A king rules to promote righteousness; rulers govern to promote justice,
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See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
2 each like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a storm, like streams of water in a wasteland, like the shade of a massive cliff in a worn-out 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 eyes of those who can see will no longer be blind, the ears of those who can hear will listen,
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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 the minds of the rash will know and comprehend, and the tongues of those who stammer will speak fluently and plainly.
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The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
5 Then a fool will no longer be called honorable, nor a villain considered respectable.
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No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
6 Fools speak folly; their minds devise wickedness, acting irreverently, speaking falsely of the LORD, leaving the hungry empty, and depriving the thirsty of drink.
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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 As for the villain, his villainies are evil. He plans schemes to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speak justly.
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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 an honorable person plans honorable things and stands up for what is honorable.
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But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.
9 Women of leisure, stand up! Hear my voice! Carefree daughters, listen to my word!
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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 over a year, the carefree will shudder, because the grape harvest will fail; the vintage won't arrive.
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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 Tremble, all of you who are at ease; shudder, all of you who are secure! Strip yourselves, bare your skin, and tie mourning clothes around your waist,
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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 beating your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
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Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines
13 for my people's soil growing barbs and thorns, for all the joyous houses in the jubilant town.
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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 The palace will be deserted, the crowded city abandoned. Stronghold and watchtower will become empty fields forever, suited for the pleasure of wild donkeys, and a pasture 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 a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the desert turns into farmland, and the farmland is 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 reside in wild lands, and righteousness will abide in farmlands.
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The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace, and the outcome of righteousness, calm and security forever.
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The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
18 Then my people will live in a peaceful dwelling, in secure homes, in carefree resting places.
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My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
19 Even if the forest falls and the humbled city is laid low,
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Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely,
20 those who sow beside any stream will be happy, sending out ox and donkey to graze.
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how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.