7. Then like a dream,a vision of the night,Shall be the horde of all the nationswho make war against Ariel:All the outposts, the siege works against it,all who distress it.
8. As when a hungry man dreams he is eatingand awakens with an empty stomach,Or when a thirsty man dreams he is drinkingand awakens faint, his throat parched,So shall the horde of all the nations be,who make war against Mount Zion.
9. Stupefy yourselves and stay stupid;blind yourselves and stay blind!You who are drunk, but not from wine,who stagger, but not from strong drink!
10. For the Lord has poured out on youa spirit of deep sleep.He has shut your eyes (the prophets)and covered your heads (the seers).
11. For you the vision of all this has become like the words of a sealed scroll. When it is handed to one who can read, with the request, “Read this,” the reply is, “I cannot, because it is sealed.”
12. When the scroll is handed to one who cannot read, with the request, “Read this,” the reply is, “I cannot read.”
13. The Lord said:Since this people draws near with words onlyand honors me with their lips alone,though their hearts are far from me,And fear of me has becomemere precept of human teaching,
14. Therefore I will again deal with this peoplein surprising and wondrous fashion:The wisdom of the wise shall perish,the prudence of the prudent shall vanish.
15. Ah! You who would hide a plantoo deep for the Lord!Who work in the dark, saying,“Who sees us, who knows us?”
16. Your perversity is as though the potterwere taken to be the clay:As though what is made should say of its maker,“He did not make me!”Or the vessel should say of the potter,“He does not understand.”
17. Surely, in a very little while,Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,and the orchard be considered a forest!
18. On that day the deaf shall hearthe words of a scroll;And out of gloom and darkness,the eyes of the blind shall see.