12 (A)Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
13 (B)For the land of my people in which thorns and briars will come up;
Indeed, for all the joyful houses and for the (C)jubilant city.
14 For (D)the palace has been neglected, the [a]populated (E)city abandoned.
[b]Hill and watch-tower have become (F)caves forever,
A delight for (G)wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,
15 Until the (H)Spirit is poured out upon us from on high,
And the wilderness becomes a (I)fertile field,
And the fertile field is considered as a forest.
16 Then (J)justice will dwell in the wilderness,
And righteousness will remain in the fertile field.
17 And the (K)work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, (L)quietness and [c]confidence forever.
18 Then my people will live in a (M)peaceful settlement,
In secure dwellings, and in undisturbed (N)resting places;
19 And it will (O)hail when the (P)forest comes down,
And (Q)the city will be utterly laid low.
20 How (R)blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters,
Who [d]let the ox and the donkey out freely.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 32:14 Lit multitude of the
  2. Isaiah 32:14 Or Ophel
  3. Isaiah 32:17 Or security
  4. Isaiah 32:20 Lit send out the foot of the ox

12 Beat upon your breasts for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vine,
13 for the soil of my people
    growing up in thorns and briers;
yea, for all the joyous houses
    in the joyful city.
14 For the palace will be forsaken,
    the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower
    will become dens for ever,
a joy of wild asses,
    a pasture of flocks;
15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
    and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

The Peace of God’s Reign

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
    and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever.
18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
19 And the forest will utterly go down,[a]
    and the city will be utterly laid low.
20 Happy are you who sow beside all waters,
    who let the feet of the ox and the ass range free.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 32:19 Cn: Heb And it will hail when the forest comes down