Daily Bible Reading

A King Will Reign in Righteousness

1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,

and princes will rule in justice.

2Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,

a shelter from the storm,

like streams of water in a dry place,

like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

3Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,

and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

4The heart of the hasty will understand and know,

and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.

5The fool will no more be called noble,

nor the scoundrel said to be honorable.

6For the fool speaks folly,

and his heart is busy with iniquity,

to practice ungodliness,

to utter error concerning the Lord,

to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,

and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

7As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil;

he plans wicked schemes

to ruin the poor with lying words,

even when the plea of the needy is right.

8But he who is noble plans noble things,

and on noble things he stands.

Complacent Women Warned of Disaster

9Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice;

you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.

10In little more than a year

you will shudder, you complacent women;

for the grape harvest fails,

the fruit harvest will not come.

11Tremble, you women who are at ease,

shudder, you complacent ones;

strip, and make yourselves bare,

and tie sackcloth around your waist.

12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vine,

13for the soil of my people

growing up in thorns and briers,

yes, for all the joyous houses

in the exultant city.

14For the palace is forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens forever,

a joy of wild donkeys,

a pasture of flocks;

15until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

16Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.

17And the effect of righteousness will be peace,

and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

18My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,

in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

19And it will hail when the forest falls down,

and the city will be utterly laid low.

20Happy are you who sow beside all waters,

who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.

The Kingdom of Righteousness

1See, a king will reign in righteousness

and rulers will rule with justice.

2Each one will be like a shelter from the wind

and a refuge from the storm,

like streams of water in the desert

and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

3Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,

and the ears of those who hear will listen.

4The fearful heart will know and understand,

and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.

5No longer will the fool be called noble

nor the scoundrel be highly respected.

6For fools speak folly,

their hearts are bent on evil:

They practice ungodliness

and spread error concerning the Lord;

the hungry they leave empty

and from the thirsty they withhold water.

7Scoundrels use wicked methods,

they make up evil schemes

to destroy the poor with lies,

even when the plea of the needy is just.

8But the noble make noble plans,

and by noble deeds they stand.

The Women of Jerusalem

9You women who are so complacent,

rise up and listen to me;

you daughters who feel secure,

hear what I have to say!

10In little more than a year

you who feel secure will tremble;

the grape harvest will fail,

and the harvest of fruit will not come.

11Tremble, you complacent women;

shudder, you daughters who feel secure!

Strip off your fine clothes

and wrap yourselves in rags.

12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vines

13and for the land of my people,

a land overgrown with thorns and briers—

yes, mourn for all houses of merriment

and for this city of revelry.

14The fortress will be abandoned,

the noisy city deserted;

citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever,

the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

15till the Spirit is poured on us from on high,

and the desert becomes a fertile field,

and the fertile field seems like a forest.

16The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert,

his righteousness live in the fertile field.

17The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;

its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

18My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,

in secure homes,

in undisturbed places of rest.

19Though hail flattens the forest

and the city is leveled completely,

20how blessed you will be,

sowing your seed by every stream,

and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.