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 Beat your breasts in sorrow for your bountiful farms
    and your fruitful grapevines.
13 For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers.
    Your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone.
14 The palace and the city will be deserted,
    and busy towns will be empty.
Wild donkeys will frolic and flocks will graze
    in the empty forts[a] and watchtowers
15 until at last the Spirit is poured out
    on us from heaven.
Then the wilderness will become a fertile field,
    and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.

16 Justice will rule in the wilderness
    and righteousness in the fertile field.
17 And this righteousness will bring peace.
    Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.
18 My people will live in safety, quietly at home.
    They will be at rest.
19 Even if the forest should be destroyed
    and the city torn down,
20 the Lord will greatly bless his people.
    Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up.
    Their cattle and donkeys will graze freely.

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Footnotes

  1. 32:14 Hebrew the Ophel.