Isaiah
Hurricane in Jerusalem
29
2 I will lay siege on Ariel
2 and there will be grief and mourning.
2 To me she will be like an Ariel.
3 I will send warriors against you;
3 they will encircle you with outposts
3 and raise siegeworks against you.
4 Thrown down, you will speak from the ground:
4 from the dust your words will come muffled,
4 your voice will rise as a ghost’s,
4 your speech will be a whisper in the dust.
4 But in a flash,
5 the horde of your enemies will be like dust,
5 the horde of tyrants, flying chaff.
8 As when a hungry man dreams he is eating
8 and awakens with an empty stomach,
8 or when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking
8 and awakens with a parched throat,
8 so will the horde of nations be
8 that make war against Zion.
9 Be irresolute, be stupefied,
9 lose your sight and remain blind!
9 Be drunk but not from wine,
9 stagger but not from beer.
11 The revelation of all this has be come for you like the words of a sealed scroll. When someone gives it to another who knows how to read and says, “Read this,” the other one answers, “I cannot; it is sealed.” 12 W hen the scroll is given to one who doesn’t know how to read,” he answers, “I do not know.” This people honors me with words
13 Yahweh has said; “These peo ple approach me in words; they honor me with lip-service, while their hearts stay afar. The worship they offer me is useless, these are no more than traditions and human rules. 14 Because of this I will surprise them once more; the wisdom of the wise will be useless and the understanding of their prudent men will be at a loss. 15 Woe to those
15 who hide deep from Yahweh their plans,
15 who work in the dark and say,
15 “Who will know, and who will see us?”
17 In a very short time,
17 Lebanon will become a fruitful field
17 and the fruitful field will be as a forest.
18 On that day
18 the deaf will hear the words of the book,
18 and out of the dark and obscurity
18 the eyes of the blind will see.
19 The meek will find joy
19 and the poor among men will rejoice
19 in the Holy One of Israel.
21 those who by a word make a you guilty,
21 those who for a bribe can lay a snare
21 and send home the just empty-handed.
23 When he sees the work of my hands,
23 his children again in his midst,
23 they will sanctify my name,
23 they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
23 and stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 Those who err in spirit will understand;
24 those who murmur will learn.