Isaiah 29:9–14

⁹People of Jerusalem, be shocked and amazed.

Make yourselves blind so you can’t see anything.

Get drunk, but not from wine.

Be unsteady on your feet, but not because of beer.

¹⁰The Lord has made you fall into a deep sleep.

He has closed the eyes of your prophets.

He has covered the heads of your seers so they can’t see.

¹¹For you, this whole vision is like words that are sealed up in a scroll. Suppose you give it to someone who can read. And suppose you say to him, “Please read this for us.” Then he’ll answer, “I can’t. It’s sealed up.” ¹²Or suppose you give the scroll to someone who can’t read. And suppose you say, “Please read this for us.” Then he’ll answer, “I don’t know how to read.”

¹³The Lord says,

“These people worship me only with their words.

They honor me by what they say.

But their hearts are far away from me.

Their worship doesn’t mean anything to me.

They teach nothing but human rules.

¹⁴So once more I will shock these people

with many wonderful acts.

I will destroy the wisdom of those who think they are so wise.

I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart.”