Ang Matuwid na Hari
1May isang hari na maghahari nang matuwid, at ang kanyang mga opisyal ay mamamahala nang may katarungan. 2Ang bawat isa sa kanilaʼy magiging kanlungan sa malakas na hangin at bagyo. Ang katulad nilaʼy ilog na dumadaloy sa disyerto, at lilim ng malaking bato sa mainit at tuyong lupain. 3Maghahanap at makikinig ang mga tao sa Dios. 4Ang taong pabigla-bigla ay mag-iisip nang mabuti para malaman niya ang kanyang gagawin. Ang taong hindi alam kung ano ang sasabihin ay makakapagsalita nang mabuti at malinaw. 5Ang mga hangal ay hindi na dadakilain, at ang mga mandaraya ay hindi na igagalang. 6Sapagkat kahangalan ang sinasabi ng hangal, at ang masama niyang isipan ay nagbabalak na gumawa ng mga kasamaan. Nilalapastangan niya ang Dios, at pinagkakaitan ang mga nagugutom at nauuhaw. 7Masama ang pamamaraan ng mandaraya. Ipinapahamak niya ang mga dukha sa pamamagitan ng kanyang kasinungalingan, kahit na sa panahon ng paghingi ng mga ito ng katarungan. 8Pero ang taong marangal ay may hangarin na palaging gumawa ng mabuti, at itoʼy kanyang tinutupad.
9-10Kayong mga babaeng patambay-tambay lang at walang pakialam, pakinggan ninyo ang sasabihin ko sa inyo! Bago matapos ang taon, mababagabag kayo dahil hindi na mamumunga ang mga ubas at wala na kayong mapipitas. 11Matagal na kayong nakatambay at walang pakialam. Ngayon manginig na kayo sa takot. Hubarin ninyo ang inyong mga damit at magbigkis ng sako sa inyong baywang. 12Dagukan ninyo ang inyong dibdib sa kalungkutan dahil sa mangyayari sa inyong masaganang bukirin at mabungang ubasan. 13Ang lupain ng aking mga mamamayan ay tutubuan ng mga damo at matitinik na halaman, at mawawala ang masasayang tahanan at lungsod. 14Ang mataong lungsod at ang matibay na bahagi nito ay hindi na titirhan. Ang burol at ang bantayang tore nito ay magiging parang ilang magpakailanman. Itoʼy magiging tirahan ng mga maiilap na asno at pastulan ng mga tupa. 15Mangyayari ito hanggang sa ipadala sa atin ang Espiritu mula sa langit. Kung magkagayon, ang ilang ay magiging matabang lupain at ang matabang lupain ay magiging kagubatan. 16Lalaganap ang katarungan at katuwiran sa ilang at matabang lupain. 17At ang bunga ng katuwiran ay ang mabuting kalagayan, kapayapaan, at kapanatagan magpakailanman. 18Kayong mga mamamayan ng Dios ay titira sa mapayapang tahanan at ligtas sa kapahamakan. At wala nang gagambala sa inyo. 19Kahit masisira ang kagubatan at ang mga lungsod dahil umuulan ng yelo na parang bato, 20pagpapalain kayo ng Dios. Magiging masagana ang tubig para sa mga pananim, at ang inyong mga hayop ay malayang manginginain kahit saan.
The King Who Will Do What Is Right
1A king will come who will do what is right.
His officials will govern fairly.
2Each official will be like a place to get out of the wind.
He will be like a place to hide from storms.
He’ll be like streams of water flowing in the desert.
He’ll be like the shadow of a huge rock in a dry and thirsty land.
3Then the eyes of those who see won’t be closed anymore.
The ears of those who hear will listen to the truth.
4People who are afraid will know and understand.
Tongues that stutter will speak clearly.
5Foolish people won’t be considered noble anymore.
Those who are worthless won’t be highly respected.
6Foolish people say foolish things.
Their minds are set on doing evil things.
They don’t do what is right.
They tell lies about the Lord.
They don’t give hungry people any food.
They don’t let thirsty people have any water.
7Those who are worthless use sinful methods.
They make evil plans against poor people.
They destroy them with their lies.
They do it even when those people are right.
8But those who are noble make noble plans.
And by doing noble things they succeed.
The Sinful Women in Jerusalem
9You women who are so contented,
pay attention to me.
You who feel so secure,
listen to what I have to say.
10You feel secure now.
But in a little over a year you will tremble with fear.
The grape harvest will fail.
There won’t be any fruit.
11So tremble, you contented women.
Tremble with fear, you who feel so secure.
Take off your fine clothes.
Wrap yourselves in rags.
12Beat your chests to show how sad you are.
The pleasant fields have been destroyed.
The fruitful vines have dried up.
13My people’s land is overgrown with thorns and bushes.
Mourn for all the houses that were once filled with joy.
Cry over this city that used to be full of wild parties.
14The royal palace will be left empty.
The noisy city will be deserted.
The fort and lookout tower will become
a dry and empty desert forever.
Donkeys will enjoy being there.
Flocks will eat there.
15That will continue until the Holy Spirit
is poured out on us from heaven.
Then the desert will be turned into rich farm lands.
The rich farm lands will seem like a forest.
16In the desert, the Lord will make sure people do what is right.
In the rich farm lands he will make sure they treat one another fairly.
17Doing what is right will bring peace and rest.
When my people do that, they will stay calm
and trust in the Lord forever.
18They will live in a peaceful land.
Their homes will be secure.
They will enjoy peace and quiet.
19Hail might strip the forests bare.
Cities might be completely destroyed.
20But how blessed you people will be!
You will plant your seeds by every stream.
You will let your cattle and donkeys
wander anywhere they want to.
