The Kingdom of Righteousness
1 See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
2
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 see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
4
The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
5
No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
6
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
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 the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.
The Women of Jerusalem
9 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 little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come.