1Ho Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped ! add ye year to year ; let the feasts come round : 2then will I distress Ariel, and there shall be mourning and lamentation; and she shall be unto me as Ariel. 3And I will encamp against thee round about , and will lay siege against thee with posted troops, and I will raise siege works against thee. 4And thou shalt be brought down , and shalt speak out of the ground , and thy speech shall be low out of the dust ; and thy voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground , and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust .
The Siege of Jerusalem
5But the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust , and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth away : yea, it shall be in an instant suddenly . 6She shall be visited of Jehovah of hosts with thunder , and with earthquake , and great noise , with whirlwind and tempest , and the flame of a devouring fire. 7And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her stronghold , and that distress her , shall be as a dream , a vision of the night . 8And it shall be as when a hungry man dreameth , and , behold , he eateth ; but he awaketh , and his soul is empty : or as when a thirsty man dreameth , and , behold , he drinketh ; but he awaketh , and , behold , he is faint , and his soul hath appetite : so shall the multitude of all the nations be , that fight against mount Zion .
The Blindness of the People
9Tarry ye and wonder ; take your pleasure and be blind : they are drunken , but not with wine ; they stagger , but not with strong drink . 10For Jehovah hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep , and hath closed your eyes , the prophets ; and your heads , the seers , hath he covered . 11And all vision 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 : 12and the book is delivered to him that is not learned , saying, Read this , I pray thee ; and he saith, I am not learned .
God's Promise of Restoration
13And the Lord said , Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me , and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me , but have removed their heart far from me , and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them ; 14therefore , behold , I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people , even a marvellous work and a wonder ; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid . 15Woe unto them that hide deep their counsel from Jehovah , and whose works are in the dark , and that say, Who seeth us ? and who knoweth us ? 16Ye turn things upside down ! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay ; that the thing made should say of him that made it , He made me not ; or the thing formed say of him that formed it , He hath no understanding? 17Is it not yet a very little while , and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field , and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest ? 18And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book , and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness . 19The meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah , and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel . 20For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scoffer ceaseth , and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off ; 21that make a man an offender in his cause , and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate , and turn aside the just with a thing of nought . 22Therefore thus saith Jehovah , who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob : Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale . 23But when he seeth his children , the work of my hands , in the midst of him , they shall sanctify my name ; yea , they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob , and shall stand in awe of the God of Israel . 24They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall receive instruction .