9 Women, easy ones, rise, hear my voice, Daughters, confident ones, give ear 'to' my saying, 10 Days and a year ye are troubled, O confident ones, For consumed hath been harvest, The gathering cometh not. 11 Tremble ye women, ye easy ones, Be troubled, ye confident ones, Strip and make bare, with a girdle on the loins, 12 For breasts they are lamenting, For fields of desire, for the fruitful vine. 13 Over the ground of my people thorn—brier goeth up, Surely over all houses of joy of the exulting city, 14 Surely the palace hath been left, The multitude of the city forsaken, Fort and watch-tower hath been for dens unto the age, A joy of wild asses—a pasture of herds; 15 Till emptied out on us is the Spirit from on high, And a wilderness hath become a fruitful field, And the fruitful field for a forest is reckoned. 16 And dwelt in the wilderness hath judgment, And righteousness in the fruitful field remaineth. 17 And a work of the righteousness hath been peace, And a service of the righteousness—Keeping quiet and confidence unto the age. 18 And dwelt hath My people in a peaceful habitation, And in stedfast tabernacles, And in quiet resting-places. 19 And it hath hailed in the going down of the forest, And in the valley is the city low. 20 Happy 'are' ye sowing by all waters, Sending forth the foot of the ox and the ass!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 32:9-20
Commentary on Isaiah 32:9-20
(Read Isaiah 32:9-20)
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.