beingdarkenedin their understanding,excludedfrom the lifeof Godbecauseof the ignorancethat is in them, becauseof the hardnessof their heart;
Considerthe covenant;For the darkplacesof the landare fullof the habitationsof violence.
And on thismountainHe will swallowup the coveringwhich is overallpeoples,Even the veilwhich is stretchedoverallnations.
in orderto layholdof the heartsof the houseof Israelwhoare estrangedfrom Me through alltheir idols."'
"But whenhis heartwas liftedup and his spiritbecameso proudthat he behavedarrogantly,he was deposedfrom his royalthroneand [his] glorywas takenawayfrom him.
and the ostrichand the owland the seagulland the hawkin its kind,
FOR THE HEARTOF THISPEOPLEHAS BECOME DULL,WITH THEIR EARSTHEY SCARCELYHEAR,AND THEY HAVE CLOSEDTHEIR EYES,OTHERWISETHEY WOULD SEEWITH THEIR EYES,HEARWITH THEIR EARS,AND UNDERSTANDWITH THEIR HEARTAND RETURN,AND I WOULD HEALTHEM.'
After looking aroundat them with anger,grievedat their hardnessof heart,He saidto the man,"Stretchout your hand."And he stretchedit out, and his handwas restored.
"HE HAS BLINDEDTHEIR EYESAND HE HARDENEDTHEIR HEART,SOTHAT THEY WOULD NOT SEEWITH THEIR EYESAND PERCEIVEWITH THEIR HEART,AND BE CONVERTEDAND I HEALTHEM."
"Thereforehaving overlookedthe timesof ignorance,Godis nowdeclaringto menthat all[people] everywhereshould repent,
"And now,brethren,I knowthat you actedin ignorance,justas your rulersdid also.
And justas they did not see fitto acknowledgeGodany longer, Godgave them overto a depravedmind,to dothosethings which are not proper,
For I do not wantyou, brethren,to be uninformedof thismystery--sothat you will not be wisein your own estimation--that a partialhardeninghas happenedto Israeluntilthe fullnessof the Gentileshas comein;
Whatthen?WhatIsraelis seeking,it has not obtained,but those who were chosenobtainedit, and the restwere hardened;
and are confidentthat you yourselfare a guideto the blind,a lightto thosewho are in darkness,
For sincein the wisdomof Godthe worldthroughits wisdomdid not [come to] knowGod,Godwas well-pleasedthroughthe foolishnessof the message preachedto savethosewho believe.
[the wisdom] whichnoneof the rulersof thisagehas understood;for ifthey had understoodit they would not have crucifiedthe Lordof glory;
But their mindswere hardened;for untilthis verydayat the readingof the oldcovenantthe sameveilremainsunlifted,becauseit is removedin Christ.
in whosecasethe godof thisworldhas blindedthe mindsof the unbelievingsothat they might not seethe lightof the gospelof the gloryof Christ,whois the imageof God.
Howeverat that time,when you did not knowGod,you were slavesto thosewhich by natureare nogods.
And you were deadin your trespassesand sins,
[remember] that you were at that timeseparatefrom Christ,excludedfrom the commonwealthof Israel,and strangersto the covenantsof promise,havingnohopeand without Godin the world.
And although you were formerlyalienatedand hostilein mind,[engaged] in evildeeds,
not in lustfulpassion,likethe Gentileswho do not knowGod;
he candeal gentlywith the ignorantand misguided,sincehe himselfalsois besetwith weakness;
but into the second,onlythe high priest[enters] oncea year,not without[taking] blood,whichhe offersfor himselfand for the sinsof the peoplecommitted in ignorance.
You adulteresses,do you not knowthat friendshipwith the worldis hostilitytoward God?Thereforewhoeverwishesto be a friendof the worldmakeshimself an enemyof God.
As obedientchildren,do not be conformedto the formerlusts[which were yours] in your ignorance,
But the one who hateshis brotheris in the darknessand walksin the darkness,and does not knowwherehe is goingbecausethe darknesshas blindedhis eyes.
