1 See, a king will rule according to righteousness, and princes will rule according to justice. 2 And each one will be like a hiding place from [the] wind and a covering from [the] rainstorm, like streams of water in a dry region, like [the] shade of a large rock in a weary land. 3 And [the] eyes of those who see will not gaze, and [the] ears of those who hear will listen. 4 And [the] {minds} of [the] rash will understand {knowledge}, and [the] tongues of stammerers will hasten to speak clearly. 5 A fool will no longer be called noble, and a scoundrel will not be said [to be] eminent. 6 For a fool speaks folly, and his {mind} does iniquity: to {behave wickedly}, and to speak error concerning Yahweh, to leave [the] throat of [the] hungry empty, and he deprives [the] thirsty [of] drink. 7 And a scoundrel, his weapons [are] evil; he plans evil devices to ruin [the] poor with words of deception even when the speech of [the] needy [is] right. 8 But [the] nobleman plans noble things, and he stands upon noble things.
9 Women [who are] at ease, rise up; hear my voice! Carefree daughters, listen [to] my word! 10 {In a year} you will tremble, carefree ones, for [the] vintage will come to an end; [the] harvest will not come. 11 Tremble, [you who are] at ease; tremble, carefree ones; strip, and strip yourself, and gird yourself on [your] loins, 12 mourning over breasts, over fields of delight, over [the] fruitful vine, 13 over the soil of my people. It goes up [in] thorns [and] briers, indeed over all of [the] houses of joy [in the] jubilant city. 14 For [the] palace will be forsaken, [the] {crowded city} deserted; [the] hill and [the] watchtower will become a cave forever, [the] joy of wild asses, a pasture {for} flocks. 15 Until a spirit is poured out on us from on high, and [the] wilderness becomes fruitful field, and [the] fruitful field is reckoned as the forest. 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will live in the fruitful field. 17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the work of righteousness, quietness and security forever. 18 And my people will dwell in a settlement of peace and in a dwelling place of security and in undisturbed resting places. 19 And it hails when {the forest comes down}, and the city will become low in humiliation. 20 Happy [are] you who sow by all waters, who let the foot of the ox and the donkey go free.