15. I will make the trees on the mountains and hills wither up;I will dry up all their vegetation.I will turn streams into islands,and dry up pools of water.
16. I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way;I will guide them down paths they have never traveled.I will turn the darkness in front of them into light,and level out the rough ground. This is what I will do for them.I will not abandon them.
17. Those who trust in idolswill turn back and be utterly humiliated,those who say to metal images, ‘You are our gods.’”
18. “Listen, you deaf ones!Take notice, you blind ones!
19. My servant is truly blind,my messenger is truly deaf.My covenant partner, the servant of the Lord, is truly blind.
20. You see many things, but don’t comprehend;their ears are open, but do not hear.”
21. The Lord wanted to exhibit his justiceby magnifying his law and displaying it.
22. But these people are looted and plundered;all of them are trapped in pitsand held captive in prisons.They were carried away as loot with no one to rescue them;they were carried away as plunder, and no one says, “Bring that back!”
23. Who among you will pay attention to this?Who will listen attentively in the future?
24. Who handed Jacob over to the robber?Who handed Israel over to the looters?Was it not the Lord, against whom we sinned?They refused to follow his commands;they disobeyed his law.
25. So he poured out his fierce anger on them,along with the devastation of war.Its flames encircled them, but they did not realize it;it burned against them, but they did notice.