Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.”

“Listen, you deaf ones! Take notice, you blind ones!

He said, “Go and tell these people: ‘Listen continually, but don’t understand! Look continually, but don’t perceive!’

They say to the visionaries, “See no more visions!” and to the seers, “Don’t relate messages to us about what is right! Tell us nice things, relate deceptive messages.

Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive.

You will see a king in his splendor; you will see a wide land.

The coastlands see and are afraid; the whole earth trembles; they approach and come.

You see many things, but don’t comprehend; their ears are open, but do not hear.”

I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn.

When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this – animals trampling on my courtyards?

They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, so we can see; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take shape and come to pass, then we will know it!”

Those who see you stare at you, they look at you carefully, thinking: “Is this the man who shook the earth, the one who made kingdoms tremble?

At that time men will trust in their creator; they will depend on the Holy One of Israel.

All you who live in the world, who reside on the earth, you will see a signal flag raised on the mountains; you will hear a trumpet being blown.

For this is what the sovereign master has told me: “Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.

When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert.”

You saw the many breaks in the walls of the city of David; you stored up water in the lower pool.

If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the Lord’s majesty revealed.

At that time the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness.

The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.”