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.