13. The Lord said:Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service —yet their hearts are far from Me,and their worship consists of man-made ruleslearned by rote —
14. therefore I will again confound these peoplewith wonder after wonder. The wisdom of their wise men will vanish, and the understanding of the perceptive will be hidden.
15. Woe to those who go to great lengthsto hide their plans from the Lord. They do their works in darkness,and say, “Who sees us? Who knows us? ”
16. You have turned things around,as if the potter were the same as the clay.How can what is made say about its maker,“He didn’t make me”? How can what is formedsay about the one who formed it,“He doesn’t understand what he’s doing”?
17. Isn’t it true that in just a little whileLebanon will become an orchard,and the orchard will seem like a forest?
18. On that day the deaf will hear the words of a document,and out of a deep darknessthe eyes of the blind will see.
19. The humble will have joyafter joy in the Lord,and the poor people will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20. For the ruthless one will vanish,the scorner will disappear, and all those who lie in wait with evil intentwill be killed —
21. those who, with their speech,accuse a person of wrongdoing,who set a trap at the gate for the mediator,and without cause deprive the righteous of justice.
22. Therefore, the Lord who redeemed Abraham says this about the house of Jacob:Jacob will no longer be ashamedand his face will no longer be pale.
23. For when he sees his children,the work of My hands within his nation,they will honor My name,they will honor the Holy One of Jacob and stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24. Those who are confused will gain understanding,and those who grumble will accept instruction.