Isaiah 32:8-18

8 Forsooth a prince shall think those things that be worthy to a prince, and he shall stand over dukes.

9 Rich women, rise ye (up), and hear my voice; daughters trusting, perceive ye with ears my speech (trusting daughters, listen to what I have to say).

10 For why after days and a year, and ye that trust shall be troubled; for why [the] vintage is ended, (the) gathering shall no more come (there shall be no more grapes to gather in).

11 Ye rich women, be astonied; ye that trust, be troubled (Ye rich women, be astonished; ye who be so trusting, be troubled); unclothe ye you, and be ye ashamed; gird your loins;

12 wail ye on breasts, on the desirable country(side), on the plenteous vinery. (beat ye your breasts, and wail ye, for the desirable land, and for the plentiful vines.)

13 Thorns and briars shall ascend on the earth of my people; how much more on all the houses of joy of the city making full out joy? (Thorns and briars shall grow on the land of my people, and how much more in all the houses of joy, in the city making full out joy?)

14 For why the house is left, the multitude of the city is forsaken; darknesses and groping be made on [the] dens, till into without end. The joy of wild asses is the pasture of flocks; (For the palace is left empty, and all the city is deserted; darkness and groping be made on the glens forever. The place of joy for the wild donkeys is now the pasture for flocks;)

15 till the spirit be shed out on us from on high, and the desert shall be into Carmel, and Carmel shall be areckoned into a forest. (until the Spirit is poured out on us from on high, and the wilderness shall be turned into a plentiful land, and the plentiful land shall reckoned as a forest.)

16 And doom shall dwell in wilderness, and rightfulness shall sit in Carmel; (And justice, or judgement, shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness shall be in the plentiful land;)

17 and the work of rightfulness shall be peace, and the tilth of rightfulness shall be stillness and secureness, till into without end. (and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the fruit, or the harvest, of righteousness shall be peace and security forever.)

18 And my people shall sit in the fairness of peace, and in the tabernacles of trust, and in rich rest.

Isaiah 32:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 32

This chapter contains a prophecy of the Messiah; for, however applicable it may be to Hezekiah, as a type of Christ, it only has its full accomplishment in him, and in his times; who is described as a righteous King, and as having just princes ruling under him, Isa 32:1 and as a very great blessing, protection, and comfort to his subjects, Isa 32:2 when follows a prediction of great light and knowledge that should be in his days, Isa 32:3,4 and of the vileness, hypocrisy, and covetousness of the Jews in his times, Isa 32:5-8 and of the destruction of their country, because of their sins, of which they seemed greatly insensible, and were unconcerned about it, and are therefore called upon to lament it, Isa 32:9-14 which should continue until there would be a very great effusion of the Spirit, as should make the world, comparable to a wilderness, fruitful in grace and good works; the consequence of which is great prosperity, peace, and safety, to the saints, Isa 32:15-18 and destruction to their enemies, particularly the city of Rome, Isa 32:19 and the chapter is concluded with the happiness of the Gospel ministration, and the success of it, Isa 32:20.