USB ~ Isaiah 32

The Kingdom of Justice

1 See, a king will reign justly and princes will rule rightly. a

2 Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the rain. They will be like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a great rock in a parched land. b

3 The eyes of those who see will not be closed; the ears of those who hear will be attentive. c

4 The hasty of heart shall take thought to know, and tongues of stutterers shall speak readily and clearly.

5 No more will the fool be called noble, nor the deceiver be considered honorable. d

6 For the fool speaks folly, his heart plans evil: Godless actions, perverse speech against the LORD, Letting the hungry go empty and the thirsty without drink. e

7 The deceits of the deceiver are evil, he plans devious schemes: To ruin the poor with lies, and the needy when they plead their case. f

8 But the noble plan noble deeds, and in noble deeds they persist.

The Women of Jerusalem

9 You women so complacent, rise up and hear my voice, daughters so confident, give heed to my words. g

10 In a little more than a year your confidence will be shaken; For the vintage will fail, no fruit harvest will come in. h

11 Tremble, you who are so complacent! Shudder, you who are so confident! Strip yourselves bare, with only a loincloth for cover. i

12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine; j

13 For the soil of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers; For all the joyful houses, the exultant city. k

14 The castle† will be forsaken, the noisy city deserted; Citadel and tower will become wasteland forever, the joy of wild donkeys, the pasture of flocks; l

15 † Until the spirit from on high is poured out on us. And the wilderness becomes a garden land and the garden land seems as common as forest. m

16 Then judgment will dwell in the wilderness and justice abide in the garden land.

17 The work of justice will be peace; the effect of justice, calm and security forever. n

18 My people will live in peaceful country, in secure dwellings and quiet resting places. o

19 And the forest will come down completely, the city will be utterly laid low.† p

20 Happy are you who sow beside every stream, and let the ox and the donkey go freely! q

Footnotes

†. 32:14 The castle: the fortified royal palace in Jerusalem. Citadel: Ophel, the fortified hill, with its stronghold called “the great projecting tower” (Neh 3:27).

†. 32:15-18, 20 Extraordinary peace and prosperity will come to Israel under just rulers.

†. 32:19 Probably from a different context, perhaps after v. 14a.

32:1 Is 9:6; 11:4; 16:5; Ps 72:1-4; Jer 23:5-6.
32:2 Is 4:6; 16:4; 25:4.
32:3 Is 6:10; 29:18; 35:5.
32:5 Is 5:20.
32:6 Prv 15:2.
32:7 Is 29:20-21; Mi 2:1.
32:9 Is 3:16-24; Am 6:1.
32:10 Zep 1:13.
32:11 Is 20:2; Jer 4:8; Mi 1:8.
32:12 Is 16:9.
32:13 Is 5:6; 7:23-25; 22:2; 34:13.
32:14 Is 7:25; 24:10-11.
32:15 Is 44:3; Ps 104:30; Ez 37:9-10; Jl 3:1-2.
32:17 Is 9:6; 30:15; 33:15-16; Ps 72:2-3, 7; Jas 3:18.
32:18 Jer 23:6; Mi 4:4.
32:19 Is 10:33-34; 26:5.
32:20 Is 7:25; 30:18, 23.