The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 See, a king will be ruling in righteousness, and chiefs will give right decisions.
1
Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice.
2 And a man will be as a safe place from the wind, and a cover from the storm; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shade of a great rock in a waste land.
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.
3 And the eyes of those who see will not be shut, and those who have hearing will give ear to the word.
3
Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people.
4 The man of sudden impulses will become wise in heart, and he whose tongue is slow will get the power of talking clearly.
4
They will not be impatient any longer, but they will act with understanding and will say what they mean.
5 The foolish man will no longer be named noble, and they will not say of the false man that he is a man of honour.
5
No one will think that a fool is honorable or say that a scoundrel is honest.
6 For the foolish man will say foolish things, having evil thoughts in his heart, working what is unclean, and talking falsely about the Lord, to keep food from him who is in need of it, and water from him whose soul is desiring it.
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.
7 The designs of the false are evil, purposing the destruction of the poor man by false words, even when he is in the right.
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.
8 But the noble-hearted man has noble purposes, and by these he will be guided.
8
But an honorable person acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.
9 Give ear to my voice, you women who are living in comfort; give attention to my words, you daughters who have no fear of danger.
9
You women who live an easy life, free from worries, listen to what I am saying.
10 In not much more than a year, you, who are not looking for evil, will be troubled: for the produce of the vine-gardens will be cut off, and there will be no getting in of the grapes.
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.
11 Be shaking with fear, you women who are living in comfort; be troubled, you who have no fear of danger: take off your robes and put on clothing of grief.
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.
12 Have sorrow for the fields, the pleasing fields, the fertile vine;
12
Beat your breasts in grief because the fertile fields and the vineyards have been destroyed,
13 And for the land of my people, where thorns will come up; even for all the houses of joy in the glad town.
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.
14 For the fair houses will have no man living in them; the town which was full of noise will become a waste; the hill and the watchtower will be unpeopled for ever, a joy for the asses of the woods, a place of food for the flocks;
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.
15 Till the spirit comes on us from on high, and the waste land becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field is changed into a wood.
15
But once more God will send us his spirit. The wasteland will become fertile, and fields will produce rich crops.
16 Then in the waste land there will be an upright rule, and righteousness will have its place in the fertile field.
16
Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done.
17 And the work of righteousness will be peace; and the effect of an upright rule will be to take away fear for ever.
17
Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.
18 And my people will be living in peace, in houses where there is no fear, and in quiet resting-places.
18
God's people will be free from worries, and their homes peaceful and safe
19 But the tall trees will come down with a great fall, and the town will be low in a low place.
19
(But hail will fall on the forests, and the city will be torn down.)
20 Happy are you who are planting seed by all the waters, and sending out the ox and the ass.
20
How happy everyone will be with plenty of water for the crops and safe pasture everywhere for the donkeys and cattle.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.