Israel’s Blindness and Deafness

18 “Listen, you deaf!
Look, you blind, so that you may see.(A)
19 Who is blind but my servant,(B)
or deaf like my messenger I am sending?
Who is blind like my dedicated one,[a]
or blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 Though seeing many things,[b] you pay no attention.
Though his ears are open, he does not listen.”(C)

21 Because of his righteousness, the Lord was pleased
to magnify his instruction and make it glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and looted,
all of them trapped in holes
or imprisoned in dungeons.
They have become plunder(D)
with no one to rescue them
and loot, with no one saying, “Give it back!”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 42:19 Hb obscure
  2. 42:20 Alt Hb tradition reads You see many things;

18 (A)Hear, you who are deaf!
And look, you who are blind, so that you may see.
19 Who is blind but My (B)servant,
Or so deaf as My (C)messenger whom I send?
Who is so blind as one who is [a](D)at peace with Me,
Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 (E)You have seen many things, but you do not retain them;
Your ears are open, but no one hears.
21 The Lord was pleased for His righteousness’ sake
To make the Law (F)great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and pillaged;
All of them are (G)trapped in [b]caves,
Or are (H)hidden away in prisons;
They have become plunder, with no one to save them,
And spoils with no one to say, “Give them back!”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 42:19 Or the devoted one
  2. Isaiah 42:22 Or holes