Isaiah 32 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Look — a king will rule with justice, and leaders will govern with what is right.

Each one will be like shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry wasteland, like the shadow of a massive rock in an exhausted land.

Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be shut tight, and the ears of those who hear will truly listen.

The mind of the reckless will learn to understand, and the tongue of the stammerer will speak clearly and well.

The fool will no longer be called generous, and the scoundrel will no longer be called noble.

Because the fool speaks foolishness, and his mind plots what is wrong — practicing what is twisted, spreading lies about Yahweh, leaving the hungry with nothing, and keeping water from the thirsty.

The scoundrel's methods are destructive — he devises wicked schemes to ruin the vulnerable with lies, even when the poor person's case is just.

But the generous person plans generous things, and by generous things they stand firm.

Women living at ease — stand up and hear my voice! Daughters who feel so secure — listen to what I say!

In a little more than a year you will shudder, you comfortable ones — because the grape harvest will fail, the gathering of fruit will not come.

Tremble, you women at ease! Shudder, you comfortable ones! Strip yourselves bare, wrap rough cloth around your waists.

Beat your chests in grief for the beautiful fields, for the fruitful vine,

for the land of my people where thorns and briars grow up — yes, for every house of celebration in the city that once rejoiced.

Because the fortress will be abandoned, the crowded city deserted. The hill and the watchtower will become bare places forever — a playground for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks —

until The Breath is poured out on us from the heights, and the wilderness becomes a garden, and the garden is counted as a forest.

Then justice will settle in the wilderness, and what is right will dwell in the garden.

The work of what is right will be peace, and the result of what is right will be quiet confidence forever.

My people will live in a home of peace, in safe places to rest, in undisturbed places of ease.

But hail will flatten the forest, and the city will be leveled completely.

How good it will be for you who plant seeds beside every stream, who let the ox and donkey roam free.