1Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with righteousness. Princes will rule for the sake of justice. 2Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a place to hide from storms. They will be like streams flowing in a desert, like the shadow of a giant rock in a barren land. 3Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people. 4They will not be impatient any longer, but they will act with understanding and will pay attention to the needs of the people. 5No one will think that a fool is honorable or say that a scoundrel is honest. 6A fool speaks foolishly and thinks up evil things to do. He promotes wickedness and what he says insults Jehovah. He never feeds the hungry or gives thirsty people anything to drink. 7As for a rogue, his weapons are evil. He devises wicked schemes to destroy the afflicted with slander, even though the needy one speaks what is right. 8But the noble man devises noble plans. He stands firm for what is honorable. 9Rise up, you women who are at ease. Hear my voice and pay attention to my word, you complacent daughters. 10Within a year and some days you will be troubled, O complacent women for the vintage is ended, the fruit gathering will not happen. 11Tremble you women who are at ease. Be troubled you complacent ones. Undress and put sackcloth on your waist, 12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine, 13For the land of my people where thorns and briars will grow for they are on the delightful houses and the exultant city. 14Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watchtower have become caves forever. They will be a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks. 15The Spirit will be poured out upon us from on high. Then the wilderness will be turned into a fertile field, and the fertile field will be considered a forest. 16Then justice will live in the wilderness, and righteousness will be at home in the fertile field. 17An act of righteousness will bring about peace and security forever. 18My people will live in a peaceful place, in safe homes and quiet places of rest. 19The forest will be flattened because of hail, and the city will be completely leveled. 20Blessed are those who plant beside every stream and those who let cattle and donkeys roam freely.