12 Beat your breasts in mourning(A)
for the delightful fields and the fruitful vines,(B)
13 for the ground of my people
growing thorns and briers,(C)
indeed, for every joyous house in the jubilant city.

14 For the palace will be deserted,
the busy city abandoned.
The hill and the watchtower will become
barren places forever,
the joy of wild donkeys,
and a pasture for flocks,
15 until the Spirit[a] from on high is poured out on us.(D)
Then the desert will become an orchard,
and the orchard will seem like a forest.(E)
16 Then justice will inhabit the wilderness,
and righteousness will dwell in the orchard.

17 The result of righteousness will be peace;(F)
the effect of righteousness
will be quiet confidence forever.
18 Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place,
in safe and secure dwellings.
19 But hail will level the forest,[b](G)
and the city will sink into the depths.(H)
20 You will be happy as you sow seed
beside abundant water,(I)
and as you let oxen and donkeys range freely.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 32:15 Or a wind
  2. 32:19 Hb obscure

12 (A)Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vine,
13 (B)for the soil of my people
    growing up in thorns and briers,
(C)yes, for all the joyous houses
    in the exultant city.
14 For the palace is forsaken,
    the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower
    will become dens forever,
(D)a joy of wild donkeys,
    a pasture of flocks;
15 until (E)the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
    and (F)the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
    and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
17 (G)And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust[a] forever.
18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
19 (H)And it will hail when the forest falls down,
    (I)and the city will be utterly laid low.
20 (J)Happy are you who sow beside all waters,
    who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 32:17 Or security