1 Behold, a King shal reigne in righteousnes, and princes shal rule in iudgement.
2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the winde, and a couert from the tempest: as riuers of water in a drie place, as the shadow of a great rocke in a wearie land.
3 And the eyes of them that see, shall not be dimme; and the eares of them that heare, shall hearken.
4 The heart also of the rash shall vnderstand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall bee readie to speake plainely.
5 The vile person shall be no more called liberall, nor the churle sayd to be bountifull.
6 For the vile person wil speake villenie, and his heart will worke iniquitie, to practise hypocrisie, and to vtter errour against the Lord, to make emptie the soule of the hungry, and hee will cause the drinke of the thirstie to faile.
7 The instruments also of the churle are euill: he deuiseth wicked deuices, to destroy the poore with lying wordes, euen when the needie speaketh right.
8 But the liberall deuiseth liberall things, and by liberall things shall hee stand.
9 ¶ Rise vp ye women that are at ease: heare my voice, ye carelesse daughters, giue eare vnto my speech.
10 Many dayes and yeeres shall ye be troubled, yee carelesse women: for the vintage shall faile, the gathering shall not come.
11 Tremble yee women that are at ease: be troubled, ye carelesse ones, strip ye and make ye bare, and gird sackecloth vpon your loynes.
12 They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fieldes, for the fruitfull vine.
13 Upon the land of my people shall come vp thornes, and briars, yea vpon all the houses of ioy in the ioyous citie.
14 Because the palaces shall be forsaken, the multitude of the citie shall be left, the forts and towres shall be for dennes for euer, a ioy of wild asses, a pasture of flockes;
15 Untill the spirit be powred vpon vs from on high, and the wildernesse be a fruitfull field, and the fruitfull field be counted for a forrest.
16 Then iudgement shall dwell in the wildernesse, and righteousnesse remaine in the fruitfull field.
17 And the worke of righteousnesse shalbe peace, and the effect of righteousnesse, quietnesse and assurance for euer.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places:
19 When it shall haile, comming downe on the forrest; and the citie shall be low in a low place.
20 Blessed are yee that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feete of the oxe and the asse.
Times of peace and happiness. (1-8) An interval of trouble, yet comfort and blessings in the end. (9-20)1-8 Christ our righteous King, and his true disciples, are evidently here intended. The consolations and graces of his Spirit are as rivers of water in this dry land; and as the overhanging rock affords refreshing shade and shelter to the weary traveller in the desert, so his power, truth, and love, yield the believer the only real protection and refreshment in the weary land through which he journeys to heaven. Christ bore the storm himself, to keep it off from us. To him let the trembling sinner flee for refuge; for he alone can protect and refresh us in every trial. See what pains sinners take in sin; they labour at it, their hearts are intent upon it, and with art they work iniquity; but this is our comfort, that they can do no more mischief than God permits. Let us seek to have our hearts more freed from selfishness. The liberal soul devises liberal things concerning God, and desires that He will grant wisdom and prudence, the comforts of his presence, the influence of his Spirit, and in due time the enjoyment of his glory.
9-20 When there was so much provocation given to the holy God, bad times might be expected. Alas! how many careless ones there are, who support self-indulgence by shameful niggardliness! We deserve to be deprived of the supports of life, when we make them the food of lusts. Let such tremble and be troubled. Blessed times shall be brought in by the pouring out of the Spirit from on high; then, and not till then, there will be good times. The present state of the Jews shall continue until a more abundant pouring out of the Spirit from on high. Peace and quietness shall be found in the way and work of righteousness. True satisfaction is to be had only in true religion. And real holiness is real happiness now, and shall be perfect happiness, that is, perfect holiness for ever. The good seed of the word shall be sown in all places, and be watered by Divine grace; and laborious, patient labourers shall be sent forth into God's husbandry.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.