New Century Version NCV
Good News Translation GNT
1 A king will rule in a way that brings justice, and leaders will make fair decisions.
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Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice.
2 Then each ruler will be like a shelter from the wind, like a safe place in a storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like a cool shadow from a large rock in a hot land.
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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 People will look to the king for help, and they will truly listen to what he says.
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Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people.
4 People who are now worried will be able to understand. Those who cannot speak clearly now will then be able to speak clearly and quickly.
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They will not be impatient any longer, but they will act with understanding and will say what they mean.
5 Fools will not be called great, and people will not respect the wicked.
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No one will think that a fool is honorable or say that a scoundrel is honest.
6 A fool says foolish things, and in his mind he plans evil. A fool does things that are wicked, and he says wrong things about the Lord. A fool does not feed the hungry or let thirsty people drink water.
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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 wicked person uses evil like a tool. He plans ways to take everything from the poor. He destroys the poor with lies, even when the poor person is in the right.
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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 a good leader plans to do good, and those good things make him a good leader.
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But an honorable person acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.
9 You women who are calm now, stand up and listen to me. You women who feel safe now, hear what I say.
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You women who live an easy life, free from worries, listen to what I am saying.
10 You women feel safe now, but after one year you will be afraid. There will be no grape harvest and no summer fruit to gather.
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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 Women, you are calm now, but you should shake with fear. Women, you feel safe now, but you should tremble. Take off your nice clothes and put rough cloth around your waist to show your sadness.
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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 Beat your breasts in grief, because the fields that were pleasant are now empty. Cry, because the vines that once had fruit now have no more grapes.
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Beat your breasts in grief because the fertile fields and the vineyards have been destroyed,
13 Cry for the land of my people, in which only thorns and weeds now grow. Cry for the city that once was happy and for all the houses that once were filled with joy.
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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 The palace will be empty; people will leave the noisy city. Strong cities and towers will be empty. Wild donkeys will love to live there, and sheep will go there to eat.
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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 This will continue until God pours his Spirit from above upon us. Then the desert will be like a fertile field and the fertile field like a forest.
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But once more God will send us his spirit. The wasteland will become fertile, and fields will produce rich crops.
16 Justice will be found even in the desert, and fairness will be found in the fertile fields.
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Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done.
17 That fairness will bring peace, and it will bring calm and safety forever.
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Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.
18 My people will live in peaceful places and in safe homes and in calm places of rest.
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God's people will be free from worries, and their homes peaceful and safe
19 Hail will destroy the forest, and the city will be completely destroyed.
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(But hail will fall on the forests, and the city will be torn down.)
20 But you will be happy as you plant seeds near every stream and as you let your cattle and donkeys wander freely.
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How happy everyone will be with plenty of water for the crops and safe pasture everywhere for the donkeys and cattle.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.