Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.(A)
The reckless mind will gain knowledge,
and the stammering tongue(B) will speak clearly and fluently.
A fool will no longer be called a noble,(C)
nor a scoundrel said to be important.
For a fool speaks foolishness
and his mind plots iniquity.
He lives in a godless way
and speaks falsely about the Lord.
He leaves the hungry empty
and deprives the thirsty of drink.(D)
The scoundrel’s weapons are destructive;
he hatches plots to destroy the needy with lies,
even when the poor says what is right.
But a noble person plans noble things;
he stands up for noble causes.

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Then the eyes of those who can see won’t turn away,
    and the ears of those who can hear will listen.
The hearts of reckless people will understand sound judgment,
    and the tongues of those who stammer will be ready to speak clearly.
People will no longer call a fool[a] noble,
    nor will a bad person be declared honorable.
For fools utter contempt,
    and their minds plot[b] wrong things:
practicing ungodliness,
    spreading lies about the Lord,
leaving the pangs of hungry people unsatisfied,
    and depriving thirsty people of drink.
Furthermore, the crimes of bad people are evil;
    and[c] they devise wicked schemes,
destroying the poor[d] with lying words,
    even when needy people plead[e] a just cause.
But those who are decent plan noble things,
    and by noble deeds they stand.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 32:5 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads No longer will a fool will be called
  2. Isaiah 32:6 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads work
  3. Isaiah 32:7 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks and
  4. Isaiah 32:7 1QIsaa and MT use two different synonyms
  5. Isaiah 32:7 So 1QIsaa; cf. LXX; MT reads a needy one pleads