Stop and be astonished;
blind yourselves and be blind!
They are drunk,[a] but not with wine;
they stagger,[b] but not with beer.(A)
10 For the Lord has poured out on you
an overwhelming urge to[c] sleep;(B)
he has shut your eyes (the prophets)
and covered your heads (the seers).(C)

11 For you the entire vision will be like the words of a sealed document.(D) If it is given to one who can read and he is asked to read it,[d] he will say, “I can’t read it, because it is sealed.” 12 And if the document is given to one who cannot read and he is asked to read it,[e] he will say, “I can’t read.”

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Footnotes

  1. 29:9 LXX, Tg, Vg read Be drunk
  2. 29:9 Tg, Vg read wine; stagger
  3. 29:10 Lit you a spirit of
  4. 29:11 Lit If one gives it to one who knows the document, saying, “Read this, please”
  5. 29:12 Lit who does not know the document, saying, “Read this, please”

Blind to God’s Words

“Act stupid!
    Be astonished!
Act blind,
    and be blind!
Be drunk,[a] but not from[b] wine;
    stagger around,[c] but not from strong drink.
10 For the Lord has poured out upon you
    a spirit of deep sleep—
he has closed your eyes, you prophets,
    he has covered your heads, you seers!”

11 “And this entire vision has become for you like the words of a sealed book. When people give it to someone who can read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ he answers,[d] ‘I cannot, because it is sealed.’ 12 Or when they give the book[e] to someone who cannot read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ he answers,[f] ‘I don’t know how to read.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 29:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads They have become drunk
  2. Isaiah 29:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks from
  3. Isaiah 29:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads They stagger around
  4. Isaiah 29:11 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he will answer
  5. Isaiah 29:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read the book will be given
  6. Isaiah 29:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he will answer