1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as streams of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. great: Heb. heavy

3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.

4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. rash: Heb. hastyplainly: or, elegantly

5 The vile person shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

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.

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. the needy…: or, he speaketh against the poor in judgment

8 But the noble deviseth noble things; and by noble things shall he stand. stand: or, be established

9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear to my speech.

10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Many…: Heb. Days above a year

11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip ye, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.

12 They shall lament for the breasts, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. pleasant…: Heb. fields of desire

13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; also, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: yea…: or, burning upon

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 donkeys, a pasture of flocks; forts…: or, clifts and watchtowers

15 Until the spirit shall be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness shall be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be counted for a forest.

16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. low in…: or, utterly abased

20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth there the feet of the ox and the donkey.