King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
1
Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice.
2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary 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 them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.
3
Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people.
4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
4
They will not be impatient any longer, but they will act with understanding and will say what they mean.
5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
5
No one will think that a fool is honorable or say that a scoundrel is honest.
6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
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 instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh 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 liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
8
But an honorable person acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.
9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
9
You women who live an easy life, free from worries, listen to what I am saying.
10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
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 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.
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 They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
12
Beat your breasts in grief because the fertile fields and the vineyards have been destroyed,
13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
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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 Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of 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 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
15
But once more God will send us his spirit. The wasteland will become fertile, and fields will produce rich crops.
16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
16
Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done.
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
17
Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
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God's people will be free from worries, and their homes peaceful and safe
19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
19
(But hail will fall on the forests, and the city will be torn down.)
20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of 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 King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.