14. For a long time, I, the Lord,have held my temper;now I will scream and groanlike a woman giving birth.
15. I will destroy the mountainsand what grows on them;I will dry up rivers and ponds.
16. I will lead the blind on roadsthey have never known;I will guide them on pathsthey have never travelled.Their road is dark and rough,but I will give lightto keep them from stumbling.This is my solemn promise.
17. Everyone who worships idolsas though they were godswill be terribly ashamed.
18. You people are deaf and blind,but the Lord commands youto listen and to see.
19. No one is as blind or deafas his messenger,his chosen servant,
20. who sees and hears so much,but pays no attention.
21. The Lord always does right,and so he wanted his Lawto be greatly praised.
22. But his people were trappedand imprisoned in holeswith no one to rescue them.All they owned had been taken,and no one was willingto give it back.
23. Why won't his peopleever learn to listen?
24. Israel sinned and refusedto obey the Lordor follow his instructions.So the Lord let them be robbedof everything they owned.
25. He was furious with themand punished their nationwith the fires of war.Still they paid no attention.They didn't even carewhen they were surroundedand scorched by flames.