Good News Translation w/ Apocrypha GNTA
New International Version NIV
1 Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice.
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See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
2 Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a place to hide from storms. They will be like streams flowing in a desert, like the shadow of a giant rock in a barren 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 Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people.
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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 They will not be impatient any longer, but they will act with understanding and will say what they mean.
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The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
5 No one will think that a fool is honorable or say that a scoundrel is honest.
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No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
6 A fool speaks foolishly and thinks up evil things to do. What he does and what he says are an insult to the Lord, and he never feeds the hungry or gives thirsty people anything to 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 A stupid person is evil and does evil things; he plots to ruin the poor with lies and to keep them from getting their rights.
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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 acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.
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But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.
9 You women who live an easy life, free from worries, listen to what I am saying.
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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 You may be satisfied now, but this time next year you will be in despair because there will be no grapes for you to gather.
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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 You have been living an easy life, free from worries; but now, tremble with fear! Strip off your clothes and tie rags 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 Beat your breasts in grief because the fertile fields and the vineyards have been destroyed,
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Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines
13 and thorn bushes and briers are growing on my people's land. Weep for all the houses where people were happy and for the city that was full of life.
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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 Even the palace will be abandoned and the capital city totally deserted. Homes and the forts that guarded them will be in ruins forever. Wild donkeys will roam there, and sheep will find pasture there.
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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 But once more God will send us his spirit. The wasteland will become fertile, and fields will produce rich crops.
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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 Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done.
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The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.
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The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
18 God's people will be free from worries, and their homes peaceful and safe
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My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
19 (But hail will fall on the forests, and the city will be torn down.)
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Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely,
20 How happy everyone will be with plenty of water for the crops and safe pasture everywhere for the donkeys and cattle.
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how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. 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.