29:13 The sovereign master 1 says,
“These people say they are loyal to me; 2
they say wonderful things about me, 3
but they are not really loyal to me. 4
Their worship consists of
nothing but man-made ritual. 5
29:18 At that time 6 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. 7
1 tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).
2 tn Heb “Because these people draw near to me with their mouth.”
3 tn Heb “and with their lips they honor me.”
4 tn Heb “but their heart is far from me.” The heart is viewed here as the seat of the will, from which genuine loyalty derives.
5 tn Heb “their fear of me is a commandment of men that has been taught.”
6 tn Or “In that day” (KJV).
7 tn Heb “and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”
sn Perhaps this depicts the spiritual transformation of the once spiritually insensitive nation (see vv. 10-12, cf. also 6:9-10).