New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 A king will rule in a way that brings justice, and leaders will make fair decisions.
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See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule 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 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 People will look to the king for help, and they will truly listen to what he says.
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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 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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The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
5 Fools will not be called great, and people will not respect the wicked.
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No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
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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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 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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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 a good leader plans to do good, and those good things make him a good leader.
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But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.
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 are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!
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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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 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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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 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 for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines
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 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 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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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 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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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 Justice will be found even in the desert, and fairness will be found in the fertile fields.
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The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 That fairness will bring peace, and it will bring calm and safety forever.
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The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
18 My people will live in peaceful places and in safe homes and in calm places of rest.
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My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
19 Hail will destroy the forest, and the city will be completely destroyed.
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Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely,
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 blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.