1 Behold, a king reigns for righteousness, || As for princes, they rule for judgment. 2 And 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. 3 And the eyes of beholders are not dazzled, || And the ears of hearers attend. 4 And the heart of those hurried understands to know, || And the tongue of stammerers hurries to speak clearly. 5 A fool is no more called “noble,” || And to a miser it is not said, “rich”; 6 For 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. 7 And the miser—his instruments are evil, || He has counseled wicked schemes, || To corrupt the poor with lying sayings, || Even when the needy speaks justly. 8 And the noble counseled noble things, || And he rises up for noble things. 9 Women, easy ones, rise, hear my voice, || Daughters, confident ones, give ear to my saying, 10 In days and a year || You are troubled, O confident ones, || For harvest has been consumed, || The gathering does not come. 11 Tremble, you women, you easy ones, || Be troubled, you confident ones, || Strip and make bare, with a girdle on the loins, 12 They are lamenting for breasts, || For fields of desire, for the fruitful vine. 13 Over the ground of my people thorn and brier go up, || Surely over all houses of joy of the exulting city, 14 The palace has been left, || The multitude of the city forsaken, || Fort and watchtower have been for dens to a distant age, || A joy of wild donkeys—a pasture of herds; 15 Until 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. 16 And judgment has dwelt in the wilderness, || And righteousness remains in the fruitful field. 17 And a work of the righteousness has been peace, || And a service of the righteousness—Keeping quiet and confidence to a distant age. 18 And My people have dwelt in a peaceful habitation, || And in steadfast dwelling places, || And in quiet resting places. 19 And it has hailed in the going down of the forest, || And the city is low in the valley. 20 Blessed are you sowing by all waters, || Sending out the foot of the ox and the donkey!