12 Beat your breasts(A) for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vines(B)
13 and for the land of my people,
    a land overgrown with thorns and briers(C)
yes, mourn(D) for all houses of merriment
    and for this city of revelry.(E)
14 The fortress(F) will be abandoned,
    the noisy city deserted;(G)
citadel and watchtower(H) will become a wasteland forever,
    the delight of donkeys,(I) a pasture for flocks,(J)
15 till the Spirit(K) is poured on us from on high,
    and the desert becomes a fertile field,(L)
    and the fertile field seems like a forest.(M)
16 The Lord’s justice(N) will dwell in the desert,(O)
    his righteousness(P) live in the fertile field.
17 The fruit of that righteousness(Q) will be peace;(R)
    its effect will be quietness and confidence(S) forever.
18 My people will live in peaceful(T) dwelling places,
    in secure homes,(U)
    in undisturbed places of rest.(V)
19 Though hail(W) flattens the forest(X)
    and the city is leveled(Y) completely,
20 how blessed you will be,
    sowing(Z) your seed by every stream,(AA)
    and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.(AB)

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12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,[a]
    for the fruitful vine,(A)
13 for the soil of my people
    growing up in thorns and briers,
yes, for all the joyous houses
    in the jubilant city.(B)
14 For the palace will be forsaken,
    the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower
    will become dens forever,
the joy of wild asses,
    a pasture for flocks;(C)
15 until a spirit from on high is poured out on us,
    and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.(D)

The Peace of God’s Reign

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness
    and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.(E)
17 The effect of righteousness will be peace,
    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.(F)
18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
19 The forest will disappear completely,[b]
    and the city will be utterly laid low.(G)
20 Happy will you be who sow beside every stream,
    who let the ox and the donkey range freely.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 32.12 Gk: Heb on the lamenting breasts
  2. 32.19 Meaning of Heb uncertain