^29:11To you this entire prophetic revelation²⁰ is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read²¹ and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.” ^29:12Or when they hand the scroll to one who can’t read²² and say, “Read this,” he says, “I can’t read.”²³

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Footnotes

15 The form הִתְמַהְמְהוּ (hitmahméhu) is a Hitpalpel imperative from מָהַהּ (mahah, “hesitate”). If it is retained, one might translate “halt and be amazed.” The translation assumes an emendation to הִתַּמְּהוּ (hittamméhu), a Hitpael imperative from תָּמַה (tamah, “be amazed”). In this case, the text, like Hab 1:5, combines the Hitpael and Qal imperatival forms of תָּמַה (tamah). A literal translation might be “Shock yourselves and be shocked!” The repetition of sound draws attention to the statement. The imperatives here have the force of an emphatic assertion. On this use of the imperative in Hebrew, see §110.c and §34.4c.
16 Heb “Blind yourselves and be blind!” The Hitpalpel and Qal imperatival forms of שָׁעַע (sha’a’, “be blind”) are combined to draw attention to the statement. The imperatives have the force of an emphatic assertion.
17 Some prefer to emend the perfect form of the verb to an imperative (e.g., , , ), since the people are addressed in the immediately preceding and following contexts.
18 Some prefer to emend the perfect form of the verb to an imperative (e.g., , , ), since the people are addressed in the immediately preceding and following contexts.
19 Heb “a disposition [or “spirit”] of deep sleep.” Through this mixed metaphor (sleep is likened to a liquid which one pours and in turn symbolizes spiritual dullness) the prophet emphasizes that God himself has given the people over to their spiritual insensitivity as a form of judgment.
20 Heb “vision” (so , , ).
21 Heb “one who knows a/the scroll.”
22 Heb “and if the scroll is handed to one who does not know a scroll.”
23 Heb “I do not know a scroll.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Astonish yourselves and be astonished;

blind yourselves and be blind!

Be drunk, but not with wine;

stagger, but not with strong drink!

For the Lord has poured out upon you

a spirit of deep sleep,

and has closed your eyes (the prophets),

and covered your heads (the seers).

And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Be stunned and amazed,

blind yourselves and be sightless;

be drunk, but not from wine,

stagger, but not from beer.

The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep:

He has sealed your eyes (the prophets);

he has covered your heads (the seers).

For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.” Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Stop and be astonished;

blind yourselves and be blind!

They are drunk, but not with wine;

they stagger, but not with beer.

For the Lord has poured out on you

an overwhelming urge to sleep;

he has shut your eyes (the prophets)

and covered your heads (the seers).

For you the entire vision will be like the words of a sealed document. If it is given to one who can read and he is asked to read it, he will say, “I can’t read it, because it is sealed.” And if the document is given to one who cannot read and he is asked to read it, he will say, “I can’t read.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Are you amazed and incredulous?

Don’t you believe it?

Then go ahead and be blind.

You are stupid, but not from wine!

You stagger, but not from liquor!

For the Lord has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep.

He has closed the eyes of your prophets and visionaries.

All the future events in this vision are like a sealed book to them. When you give it to those who can read, they will say, “We can’t read it because it is sealed.” When you give it to those who cannot read, they will say, “We don’t know how to read.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Be astonished and be amazed!

Blind yourselves and be blinded!

They are drunk but not from wine;

they stagger but not from strong drink.

For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep,

and he has shut your eyes, the prophets,

and he has covered your heads, the seers.

And the vision of all this has become for you like the words of a sealed document. When they give it to one who knows the document, saying, “Read this now!” He says, “I am not able, for it is sealed.” And if the document is given to one who does not know how to read, saying, “Read this now!” he says, “I do not know how to read.”

KJV 1900King James Version

Stay yourselves, and wonder;

Cry ye out, and cry:

They are drunken, but not with wine;

They stagger, but not with strong drink.

For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep,

And hath closed your eyes:

The prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed,

Which men deliver to one that is learned,

Saying, Read this, I pray thee:

And he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

And the book is delivered to him that is not learned,

Saying, Read this, I pray thee:

And he saith, I am not learned.

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