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 Hear, deaf ones,
    and blind ones, look and see!
19 Who is blind if not my servant
    and deaf like my messenger whom I send?
Who is blind like the restored one,[a]
    blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but don’t keep watch.
    With ears open, you don’t hear.[b]
21 The Lord desired for the sake of his righteousness
    to expand and glorify the Instruction.
22 But this is a people plundered and looted,
    everyone trapped in holes and hidden in dungeons.
They have become plunder with no one to rescue,
    loot with no one to say, “Give it back.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 42:19 Heb Meshullam, possibly a proper name
  2. Isaiah 42:20 Or he does not hear