7. All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel —all the attackers, the siege works against her,and those who oppress her —will then be like a dream, a vision in the night.
8. It will be like a hungry one who dreams he is eating,then wakes and is still hungry;and like a thirsty one who dreams he is drinking,then wakes and is still thirsty, longing for water.So it will be for all the many nationswho go to battle against Mount Zion.
9. Stop and be astonished;blind yourselves and be blind!They are drunk, but not with wine;they stagger, but not with beer.
10. For the Lord has poured out on youan overwhelming urge to sleep; He has shut your eyes — the prophets,and covered your heads — the seers.
11. For you the entire vision will be like the words of a sealed document. If it is given to one who can read and he is asked to read it, he will say, “I can’t read it, because it is sealed.”
12. And if the document is given to one who cannot read and he is asked to read it, he will say, “I can’t read.”
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? ”