Isaiah 42:18–23

Israel Can’t See or Hear

¹⁸“Israel, listen to me! You can hear,

but you do not understand.

Look to me! You can see,

but you do not know what you are seeing.

¹⁹The people of Israel serve me. But who is more blind than they are?

Who is more deaf than the messengers I send?

Who is more blind than those who have committed themselves to be faithful to me?

Who is more blind than my servants?

²⁰Israel, you have seen many things.

But you have not paid any attention to me.

Your ears are open.

But you do not hear anything I say.”

²¹The Lord wanted his people to see

how great and glorious his law is.

He wanted to show them

that he always does what is right.

²²Enemies have carried off everything they own.

All of my people are trapped in pits

or hidden away in prisons.

They themselves have become like stolen goods.

No one can save them.

They have been carried off.

And there is no one who will say, “Send them back.”

²³Family of Jacob, who among you will listen to what I’m saying?

People of Israel, which one of you will pay close attention in days to come?