They do not know,nordo they understand,for He has smearedovertheir eyessothat they cannotseeand their heartssothat they cannotcomprehend.
"So I gavethem overto the stubbornnessof their heart,To walkin their own devices.
A senselessmanhasnoknowledge,Nordoes a stupidmanunderstandthis:
Evilmendo not understandjustice,But those who seekthe LORDunderstandallthings.
"An oxknowsits owner,And a donkeyits master'smanger,[But] Israeldoes not know,My peopledo not understand."
O LORD,Your handis liftedup [yet] they do not seeit. They see[Your] zealfor the peopleand are putto shame;Indeed,firewill devourYour enemies.
When its limbsare dry,they are brokenoff; Womencome[and] makea firewith them, For they are not a peopleof discernment,Thereforetheir Makerwill not havecompassionon them. And their Creatorwill not be graciousto them.
For the LORDhas pouredoveryou a spiritof deepsleep,He has shutyour eyes,the prophets;And He has coveredyour heads,the seers.
Noone recalls,noris there knowledgeor understandingto say,"I have burnedhalfof it in the fireand alsohave bakedbreadoverits coals.I roastmeatand eat[it]. Then I makethe restof it into an abomination,I falldownbefore a blockof wood!"
He feedson ashes;a deceivedhearthas turnedhim aside.And he cannotdeliverhimself,norsay,"Is there not a liein my righthand?"
Those who fashiona gravenimageare allof them futile,and their preciousthingsare of noprofit;even their own witnessesfailto seeor know,sothat they will be putto shame.
"Gatheryourselves and come;Drawneartogether,you fugitivesof the nations;They havenoknowledge,Who carryabout their woodenidolAnd prayto a godwho cannotsave.
And the dogsare greedy,they are not satisfied.And they are shepherdswho havenounderstanding;They have allturnedto their own way,Eachoneto his unjustgain,to the lastone.
Everymanis stupid,devoidof knowledge;Everygoldsmithis putto shameby his idols;For his moltenimagesare deceitful,And there is nobreathin them.
But they are altogetherstupidand foolish[In their] disciplineof delusion--their idol is wood!
Nowhearthis,O foolishand senselesspeople,Who have eyesbut do not see;Who have earsbut do not hear.
Allmankindis stupid,devoidof knowledge;Everygoldsmithis putto shameby his idols,For his moltenimagesare deceitful,And there is nobreathin them.
"Sonof man,you livein the midstof the rebellioushouse,whohave eyesto seebut do not see,earsto hearbut do not hear;for they are a rebellioushouse.
"Manywill be purged,purifiedand refined,but the wickedwill actwickedly;and noneof the wickedwill understand,but those who haveinsightwill understand.
Whoeveris wise,let him understandthesethings;[Whoever] is discerning,let him knowthem. For the waysof the LORDare right,And the righteouswill walkin them, But transgressorswill stumblein them.
"You broodof vipers,howcanyou, beingevil,speakwhat is good?For the mouthspeaksout of that which fillsthe heart.
"Howcanyou believe,when you receivegloryfrom one anotherand you do not seekthe glorythat is from the [one and] onlyGod?
"Whydo you not understandwhat I am saying?[It is] becauseyou cannothearMy word.
"In the generationsgoneby He permittedallthe nationsto gotheir own ways;
And justas they did not see fitto acknowledgeGodany longer, Godgave them overto a depravedmind,to dothosethings which are not proper,
havingeyesfullof adulterythat never ceasefrom sin,enticingunstablesouls,havinga hearttrainedin greed,accursedchildren;
