13. The Lord will march out like a strong soldier;he will be excited like a man ready to fight a war.He will shout out the battle cryand defeat his enemies.
14. The Lord says, “For a long time I have said nothing;I have been quiet and held myself back.But now I will cry outand strain like a woman giving birth to a child.
15. I will destroy the hills and mountainsand dry up all their plants.I will make the rivers become dry landand dry up the pools of water.
16. Then I will lead the blind along a way they never knew;I will guide them along paths they have not known.I will make the darkness become light for them,and the rough ground smooth.These are the things I will do;I will not leave my people.
17. But those who trust in idols,who say to their statues,‘You are our gods’will be rejected in disgrace.
18. “You who are deaf, hear me.You who are blind, look and see.
19. No one is more blind than my servant Israelor more deaf than the messenger I send.No one is more blind than the person I ownor more blind than the servant of the Lord.
20. Israel, you have seen much, but you have not obeyed.You hear, but you refuse to listen.”
21. The Lord made his teachings wonderful,because he is good.
22. These people have been defeated and robbed.They are trapped in pitsor locked up in prison.Like robbers, enemies have taken them away,and there is no one to save them.Enemies carried them off,and no one said, “Bring them back.”
23. Will any of you listen to this?Will you listen carefully in the future?
24. Who let the people of Jacob be carried off?Who let robbers take Israel away?The Lord allowed this to happen,because we sinned against him.We did not live the way he wanted us to liveand did not obey his teaching.
25. So he became very angry with usand brought terrible wars against us.It was as if the people of Israel had fire all around them,but they didn’t know what was happening.It was as if they were burning,but they didn’t pay any attention.