8. It will be like a hungry man dreaming and behold, he is eating, but awakes with his hunger unsatisfied, or like a thirsty man dreaming and behold, he is drinking, but awakes faint, his soul thirsting. So it will be with the multitude of all the nations warring against Mount Zion.
9. Wait, and be astounded! Blind yourselves, and be blind! Drunk, but not with wine, Stagger, but not with strong drink.
10. For Adonai has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep, and has shut your eyes—the prophets, and covered your heads—the seers.
11. So this entire vision is for you like the words of a sealed scroll, which they give to one who knows books, saying, “Read this, please,” but he says, “I can’t, because it’s sealed.”
12. Then the scroll is given to one who does not know books, saying, “Read this, please,” but he says, “I don’t know books.”
13. So Adonai says, “Since these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are far from Me, and their fear of Me is a mitzvah taught by men.
14. Therefore, behold, once more I will do a marvelous work among this people— a marvel and a wonder— so the wisdom of their wise will perish, and the discernment of their discerning will be concealed.”
15. Oy , those who go to great depths to hide their plans from Adonai! Their works are in the dark. They say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16. Your perversity! Should the potter be regarded the same as the clay? Should the thing made say to its maker, “You did not make me”? Or the thing formed say of its former, “You have no understanding?”
17. Will it not be just a very little while before Lebanon turns into a garden, and a garden will seem like a forest?
18. In that day the deaf will hear words of a book, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
19. The meek will add to their joy in Adonai, and the needy of humanity will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20. For the ruthless will come to an end and the scorner will be finished, and all watching to do evil cut off.
21. Those who make a man out to be guilty with a word, and trap him who reproves at the gate, and deny justice with meaninglessness.