1Behold, a king reigns for righteousness, || As for princes, they rule for judgment.

2And each has been as a hiding place [from] wind, || And as a secret hiding place [from] inundation, || As streams of waters in a dry place, || As a shadow of a heavy rock in a weary land.

3And the eyes of beholders are not dazzled, || And the ears of hearers attend.

4And the heart of those hurried understands to know, || And the tongue of stammerers hurries to speak clearly.

5A fool is no more called “noble,” || And to a miser it is not said, “rich”;

6For a fool speaks folly, || And his heart does iniquity, to do profanity, || And to speak error concerning YHWH, || To empty the soul of the hungry, || Indeed, he causes the thirsty to lack [their] drink.

7And the miser—his instruments [are] evil, || He has counseled wicked schemes, || To corrupt the poor with lying sayings, || Even when the needy speaks justly.

8And the noble counseled noble things, || And he rises up for noble things.

9Women, easy ones, rise, hear my voice, || Daughters, confident ones, give ear [to] my saying,

10In days and a year || You are troubled, O confident ones, || For harvest has been consumed, || The gathering does not come.

11Tremble, you women, you easy ones, || Be troubled, you confident ones, || Strip and make bare, with a girdle on the loins,

12They are lamenting for breasts, || For fields of desire, for the fruitful vine.

13Over the ground of my people thorn [and] brier go up, || Surely over all houses of joy of the exulting city,

14The palace has been left, || The multitude of the city forsaken, || Fort and watchtower have been for dens for all time, || A joy of wild donkeys—a pasture of herds;

15Until the Spirit is emptied out on us from on high, || And a wilderness has become a fruitful field, || And the fruitful field is reckoned for a forest.

16And judgment has dwelt in the wilderness, || And righteousness remains in the fruitful field.

17And a work of the righteousness has been peace, || And a service of the righteousness—Keeping quiet and confidence for all time.

18And My people have dwelt in a peaceful habitation, || And in steadfast dwelling places, || And in quiet resting places.

19And it has hailed in the going down of the forest, || And the city is low in the valley.

20Blessed [are] you sowing by all waters, || Sending forth the foot of the ox and the donkey!