11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a [a]book (A)that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.”

(B)And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”

12 Then the book is delivered to one who [b]is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.”

And he says, “I am not literate.”

13 Therefore the Lord said:

(C)“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me (D)with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
14 (E)Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
(F)For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

15 (G)Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord,
And their works are in the dark;
(H)They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
16 Surely you have things turned around!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the (I)thing made say of him who made it,
“He did not make me”?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?

Future Recovery of Wisdom

17 Is it not yet a very little while
Till (J)Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest?
18 (K)In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book,
And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
19 (L)The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord,
And (M)the poor among men shall rejoice
In the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the [c]terrible one is brought to nothing,
(N)The scornful one is consumed,
And all who (O)watch for iniquity are cut off—
21 Who make a man an offender by a word,
And (P)lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
And turn aside the just (Q)by empty words.

22 Therefore thus says the Lord, (R)who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:

“Jacob shall not now be (S)ashamed,
Nor shall his face now grow pale;
23 But when he sees his children,
(T)The work of My hands, in his midst,
They will hallow My name,
And hallow the Holy One of Jacob,
And fear the God of Israel.
24 These also (U)who erred in spirit will come to understanding,
And those who complained will learn doctrine.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 29:11 scroll
  2. Isaiah 29:12 Lit. does not know books
  3. Isaiah 29:20 terrifying

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