## A King Will Reign Righteously ###### 1 Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly. ###### 2 Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a weary land. ###### 3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will pay attention. ###### 4 And the heart of the hasty will discern knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly. ###### 5 No longer will the wicked fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of _as_ generous. ###### 6 For a wicked fool speaks wicked folly, And his heart does wickedness: To do ungodliness and to speak error against Yahweh, In order to make the hungry person empty; He even causes the thirsty to lack a drink. ###### 7 As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He counsels wicked schemes To wreak destruction _on the_ afflicted with lying words, Even though _the_ needy one speaks justly. ###### 8 But the noble man counsels noble plans; And by noble plans he rises up. ###### 9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, _And_ hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters. ###### 10 Within a year and _a few_ days You will quake, O complacent _daughters_; For the grape harvest is ended, _And_ the _fruit_ gathering will not come. ###### 11 Tremble, you _women_ who are at ease; Quake, you complacent _daughters_; Strip, undress, and put _sackcloth_ on _your_ waist, ###### 12 Beat your breasts for the desirable fields, for the fruitful vine, ###### 13 For the land of my people _in which_ thorns _and_ briars shall come up, Indeed, against all the joyful houses _and_ the exultant city. ###### 14 Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watchtower have become caves forever, A joy for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks, ###### 15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful orchard, And the fruitful orchard is counted as a forest. ###### 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness will live in the fruitful orchard. ###### 17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and security forever. ###### 18 Then my people will live in a peaceful abode, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places; ###### 19 And it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low. ###### 20 How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.