For as the earthbringsforthits sprouts,And as a gardencauses the thingssownin it to springup, Sothe LordGODwill cause righteousnessand praiseTo springup beforeallthe nations.
Then Godsaid,"Let the earthsproutvegetation:plantsyieldingseed,[and] fruittreeson the earthbearingfruitafter their kindwith seedin them"; and it was so.
May there be abundanceof grainin the earthon topof the mountains;Its fruitwill wavelike [the cedars of] Lebanon;And may those from the cityflourishlike vegetationof the earth.
Let the mountainsbringpeaceto the people,And the hills,in righteousness.
Truthspringsfrom the earth,And righteousnesslooksdownfrom heaven.
"Awake,O north[wind], And come,[wind of] the south;Make my gardenbreatheout [fragrance], Let its spicesbe waftedabroad. May my belovedcomeinto his gardenAnd eatits choicefruits!"
In that daythe Branchof the LORDwill be beautifuland glorious,and the fruitof the earth[will be] the prideand the adornmentof the survivorsof Israel.
"I have swornby Myself, The wordhas goneforthfrom My mouthin righteousnessAnd will not turnback,That to Me everykneewill bow,everytonguewill swear[allegiance].
"They will sayof Me, 'Onlyin the LORDare righteousnessand strength.'Men will cometo Him, And allwho were angryat Him will be putto shame.
"Dripdown,O heavens,from above,And let the cloudspourdownrighteousness;Let the earthopenup and salvationbearfruit,And righteousnessspringup with it. I, the LORD,have createdit.
"I bringnearMy righteousness,it is not faroff; And My salvationwill not delay.And I will grantsalvationin Zion,[And] My gloryfor Israel.
"Ifonlyyou had paidattentionto My commandments!Then your well-beingwould have beenlike a river,And your righteousnesslike the wavesof the sea.
"And the LORDwill continuallyguideyou, And satisfyyour desirein scorchedplaces,And givestrengthto your bones;And you will be like a wateredgarden,And like a springof waterwhosewatersdo not fail.
"Violencewill not be heardagainin your land,Nordevastationor destructionwithin your borders;But you will callyour wallssalvation,and your gatespraise.
"Then allyour people[will be] righteous;They will possessthe landforever,The branchof My planting,The workof My hands,That I may be glorified.
For Zion'ssakeI will not keepsilent,And for Jerusalem'ssakeI will not keepquiet,Untilher righteousnessgoesforthlike brightness,And her salvationlike a torchthat is burning.
The nationswill seeyour righteousness,And allkingsyour glory;And you will be calledby a newnameWhichthe mouthof the LORDwill designate.
And giveHim norestuntilHe establishesAnd makesJerusalema praisein the earth.
"And the one on whom seed was sownon the goodsoil,thisis the man who hearsthe wordand understandsit; whoindeedbears fruitand brings forth,somea hundredfold,somesixty,and somethirty."
And He spokemany thingsto them in parables,saying,"Behold,the sowerwentout to sow;
"And othersfellon the goodsoiland yieldeda crop,somea hundredfold,somesixty,and somethirty.
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
