Isaiah 29

1 “How terrible it will be for you, Aruel, Aruel, ^{a29:1 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read Ariel, Ariel; i.e. a nickname assigned by the prophet for Jerusalem} the city where David encamped! Year after year, let your festivals run their cycle.ISV — Isaiah 29:1

2 Then I’ll besiege Aruel, ^{b29:2 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read Ariel, Ariel; i.e. an allusion to Jerusalem} and there will be sorrow and mourning; she will become to me like an altar fireplace. ^{c29:2 Lit. an Ariel; i.e. perhaps a pun on the name Aruel}ISV — Isaiah 29:2

3 Then I’ll encamp against you like David, ^{d29:3 So 4QIsak MTmss LXX; 1QIsaa MT read you on all sides} and I’ll lay siege to you with towers, raise siege works against you,ISV — Isaiah 29:3

4 and you will be brought down. You will speak from the ground, and your speech will mumble from the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the ground, and your speech will whisper from the dust.ISV — Isaiah 29:4

5 “But the hordes of your enemies ^{e29:5 So 1QIsaa; MT reads foreigners; LXX reads the ungodly} will become like fine dust, and the hordes of tyrants like flying chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,ISV — Isaiah 29:5

6 you will be visited by the LORD of the Heavenly Armies— with thunder, an earthquake, and great noise, with a windstorm, a tempest, and flames from a devouring fire.ISV — Isaiah 29:6

7 Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Aruel, ^{f29:7 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read Ariel, Ariel; i.e. an allusion to Jerusalem} all that attack her and her fortification ^{g29:7 So 1QIsaa; MT reads her mountain stronghold; LXX reads Jerusalem} and besiege her, will become like a dream, with its visions in the night—ISV — Isaiah 29:7

8 as when a hungry man dreams— he eats, but wakes up still hungry; or when a thirsty man dreams— he drinks, but wakes up faint, with his thirst unquenched. So will it be with the hordes of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion.ISV — Isaiah 29:8

9 “Act stupid! Be astonished! Act blind, and be blind! Be drunk, ^{h29:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads They have become drunk} but not from ^{i29:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks from} wine; stagger around, ^{j29:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads They stagger around} but not from strong drink.ISV — Isaiah 29:9

10 For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep— he has closed your eyes, you prophets, he has covered your heads, you seers!”ISV — Isaiah 29:10

11 “And this entire vision has become for you like the words of a sealed book. When people give it to someone who can read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ he answers, ^{k29:11 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he will answer} ‘I cannot, because it is sealed.’ISV — Isaiah 29:11

12 Or when they give the book ^{l29:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read the book will be given} to someone who cannot read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ he answers, ^{m29:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he will answer} ‘I don’t know how to read.’”ISV — Isaiah 29:12

13 Then the Lord said: “Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, worship of me ^{n29:13 So 1QIsaa; MT reads Their worship of me} has become merely like ^{o29:13 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack like} rules taught by human beings.ISV — Isaiah 29:13

14 Therefore, watch out! “As for me, ^{p29:14 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks as for me} I will once again do amazing things with this people, wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the insights ^{q29:14 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read insight} of their discerning men will stay hidden.”ISV — Isaiah 29:14

15 “How terrible it will be for you who go to great depths to hide your plans from the LORD, you whose deeds have been ^{r29:15 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read deeds are (or will be)} done ^{s29:15 DSS MT lack done} in the dark, and who say, ‘Who can see us? Who has recognized ^{t29:15 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read recognizes} us?’ISV — Isaiah 29:15

16 He has turned the tables on you ^{u29:16 So 1QIsaa; MT reads You turn things upside down!} — as if the potter were thought to be like heat. ^{v29:16 i.e. the fire in a kiln; so 1QIsaa; MT LXX read clay} Can what is made say of the one who made it, ‘He did not make me?’ Or can what is formed say of the ones ^{w29:16 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read one} who formed it, ‘He has no skill?’ISV — Isaiah 29:16

17 “In a very little while, will not Lebanon be turned into a garden of fruit, ^{x29:17 Lit. into Carmel} and the garden of fruit ^{y29:17 Lit. and Carmel} seem like a forest?ISV — Isaiah 29:17

18 On that day the deaf will hear the words of a scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.ISV — Isaiah 29:18

19 The humble will again experience joy in the LORD, and the poorest people will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.ISV — Isaiah 29:19

20 For the ruthless will vanish, and mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down—ISV — Isaiah 29:20

21 those who make a person appear to be the offender in a lawsuit, who set a trap for someone who is making his defense in court, ^{z29:21 Lit. in the gate} and push aside the innocent with specious arguments.ISV — Isaiah 29:21

22 “Therefore, this is what the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says concerning the house of Jacob: ‘No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will his face grow pale.ISV — Isaiah 29:22

23 For when he sees in his midst his children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and stand in awe of the God of Israel.ISV — Isaiah 29:23

24 Moreover, those who go astray in spirit will gain ^{aa29:24 Lit. discover} understanding, and those who complain will accept instruction.’”ISV — Isaiah 29:24