Isaiah 29

Read on churchofjesuschrist.org (with footnotes)

1Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.

2Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 2

Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow; for thus hath the Lord said unto me, It shall be unto Ariel,
IV v. 2 (Inspired Version, 1867)

3And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 3

That I, the Lord, will camp against her round about and will lay siege against her with a mount; and I will raise forts against her.
IV v. 3 (Inspired Version, 1867)

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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 4

And she shall be brought down and shall speak out of the ground, and her speech shall be low out of the dust; and her voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and her speech shall whisper out of the dust.
IV v. 4 (Inspired Version, 1867)

5Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 5

Moreover, the multitude of her strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away; yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
IV v. 5 (Inspired Version, 1867)

6Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 6

For they shall be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm, and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
IV v. 6 (Inspired Version, 1867)

7And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.

8It shall even be as when an 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 8

Yea, it shall be unto them even as unto a hungry man who dreameth; and behold, he eateth, but he awaketh, and his soul is empty—or like unto a thirsty man who dreameth; and behold, he drinketh, but he awaketh, and behold, he is faint; and his soul hath appetite. Yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.
IV v. 8 (Inspired Version, 1867)

9Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 9

For behold, all ye that do iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder; for ye shall cry out and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken, but not with wine; ye shall stagger, but not with strong drink.
IV v. 9 (Inspired Version, 1867)

10For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 10

For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets and your rulers; and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquities.
IV v. 10 (Inspired Version, 1867)

JST insertionbetween v. 10 and v. 11

And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book; and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered. And behold, the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore, the book shall be kept from them. But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust; and he shall deliver these words unto another, but the words that are sealed he shall not deliver; neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof. And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the housetops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men, which ever have been among the children of men and which ever will be, even unto the end of the earth. Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it, save it be that three witnesses shall behold it by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein. And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak, as it were, from the dead. Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and woe be unto him that rejecteth the word of God.

IV vv. 11–19 (Inspired Version, 1867)

11And the vision of all 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:

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 11

But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book, Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee.
IV v. 20 (Inspired Version, 1867)

JST insertionbetween v. 11 and v. 12

And the learned shall say, Bring hither the book, and I will read them; and now because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God. And the man shall say, I cannot bring the book for it is sealed. Then shall the learned say, I cannot read it. Wherefore, it shall come to pass that the Lord God will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say, I am not learned. Then shall the Lord God say unto him, The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them; and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore, thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee. Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work. Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men. For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men, save it be according to their faith.

IV vv. 21–25 (Inspired Version, 1867)

12And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

13Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 14

And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him, Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men, therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.
IV v. 26 (Inspired Version, 1867)

15Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 15

And woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord. And their works are in the dark. And they say, Who seeth us and who knoweth us? And they also say, Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay.
IV v. 27 (Inspired Version, 1867)

16Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 16

But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
IV v. 28 (Inspired Version, 1867)

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?

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 17

But behold, saith the Lord of hosts, I will show unto the children of men that it is 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.
IV v. 29 (Inspired Version, 1867)

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 the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 19

And 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; and the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord; and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
IV v. 30 (Inspired Version, 1867)

20For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:

21That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 21

For assuredly as the Lord liveth, they shall see that the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off, and they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught.
IV v. 31 (Inspired Version, 1867)

22Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 22

Therefore, thus saith the Lord who redeemed Abraham concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed; neither shall his face now wax pale; but when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
IV v. 32 (Inspired Version, 1867)

23But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

24They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

Also cited in commentary

1 Nephi 13 — The Two Churches, the Plain and Precious, and the Gentile Vessel
- Where this lands
1 Nephi 22 — Nephi's Exposition — The Scattering, the Gentile Nursing, and the Mighty One of Israel
- The Gentile vessels
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 3 — Joseph of Egypt's Prophecy, the Choice Seer, and the Joining of the Two Records
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 25 — Nephi's Exposition — The Plainness, Six Hundred Years, the Name of Christ, and Grace After All We Can Do
- The scattering and the return
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 26 — Nephi's Vision Continued — The Nephite Destruction, the Whisper out of the Dust, and the Universal Invitation
2 Nephi 27 — Isaiah 29 Expanded — The Sealed Book, the Learned Man, the Three Witnesses, the Marvelous Work
2 Nephi 28 — False Churches in the Latter Days — The Lull of Carnal Security, the Few Stripes, the Line upon Line
- Priestcraft and the arm of flesh
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 29 — A Bible! A Bible! — The Marvelous Work, the Two Records, and the Lord Speaks to All Nations
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 33 — Nephi's Farewell — The Power of the Words, the Face-to-Face Meeting, the Pleasing Bar
- The farewell
- Where this lands
3 Nephi 2 — Less and Less Astonished — How Wonder Dies and the Lines Dissolve
- How the chapter is built
- The war that dissolved the line
3 Nephi 21 — A Great and a Marvelous Work — The Sign of the Gathering and the New Jerusalem
Alma 30 — Korihor — The Anatomy of Unbelief, and the Sign That Was Not Mercy
- How the chapter is built
Alma 31 — The Rameumptom — Worship Turned Inside Out, and the Prayer of a Sorrowing Heart
- How the chapter is built
Ether 4 — Rend That Veil of Unbelief — The Sealed Vision, and the Terms on Which It Comes Forth
- How the chapter is built
Ether 5 — In the Mouth of Three Witnesses — Moroni Speaks to the Translator, and Names the Witnesses to Come
- How the chapter is built
Ether 8 — Built Up to Get Power and Gain — The Secret Combination of Akish, and Moroni's Warning to Our Nation
- How the chapter is built
Mormon 8 — I Even Remain Alone — Moroni Takes Up the Record, and Sees Our Day
- How the chapter is built
Mosiah 8 — The Twenty-Four Plates and the Doctrine of the Seer — Interpreters, Urim and Thummim, and a Gift Greater Than Prophecy
- Where this lands
Mosiah 13 — Abinadi's Face Shines — The Decalogue Finished, the Law as Schoolmaster, and the God Himself Who Shall Come Down
- The shining face and priestly paralysis
- Where this lands
Mosiah 27 — The Angel, the Three Days of Death-Like Sleep, and the Born-Again — Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah Converted, the Earth Trembling, the Soul Redeemed from the Gall of Bitterness
- Where this lands
Mosiah 28 — The Sons of Mosiah Depart for the Lamanites — They Could Not Bear That Any Soul Should Perish, Mosiah Translates the Jaredite Plates by the Interpreters, the Office of the Seer Defined
- Where this lands
Doctrine and Covenants 4 — O Ye That Embark in the Service of God
Doctrine and Covenants 5 — The Testimony of Three Witnesses
- Where this lands
Doctrine and Covenants 11 — Seek Not to Declare My Word — First Seek to Obtain It
- The harvest, and the gift
- Where this lands
Doctrine and Covenants 14 — Thou Art David — Called to Assist
- Where this lands
2 Kings 16 — The Copied Altar — Ahaz Gives His Son to the Fire, Buys an Empire with the Temple's Treasure, Orders the Pattern of Damascus from a Compliant Priest, and Refuses the Sign of Immanuel
- How this chapter changes the reader
- The pattern from Damascus

Cross-references are extracted from the project’s chapter essays — every link below points back into the original prose.

Public-domain text. The modern LDS edition with footnotes and chapter summaries is available on churchofjesuschrist.org ↗.

Study

Joseph Smith Translation

v. 2
Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow; for thus hath the Lord said unto me, It shall be unto Ariel,
v. 3
That I, the Lord, will camp against her round about and will lay siege against her with a mount; and I will raise forts against her.
v. 4
And she shall be brought down and shall speak out of the ground, and her speech shall be low out of the dust; and her voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and her speech shall whisper out of the dust.
v. 5
Moreover, the multitude of her strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away; yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
v. 6
For they shall be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm, and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
v. 8
Yea, it shall be unto them even as unto a hungry man who dreameth; and behold, he eateth, but he awaketh, and his soul is empty—or like unto a thirsty man who dreameth; and behold, he drinketh, but he awaketh, and behold, he is faint; and his soul hath appetite. Yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.
v. 9
For behold, all ye that do iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder; for ye shall cry out and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken, but not with wine; ye shall stagger, but not with strong drink.
v. 10
For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets and your rulers; and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquities.
v. 11
But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book, Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee.
v. 14
And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him, Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men, therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.
v. 15
And woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord. And their works are in the dark. And they say, Who seeth us and who knoweth us? And they also say, Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay.
v. 16
But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
v. 17
But behold, saith the Lord of hosts, I will show unto the children of men that it is 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.
v. 19
And 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; and the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord; and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
v. 21
For assuredly as the Lord liveth, they shall see that the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off, and they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught.
v. 22
Therefore, thus saith the Lord who redeemed Abraham concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed; neither shall his face now wax pale; but when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
insertion after v. 10
And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book; and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered. And behold, the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore, the book shall be kept from them. But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust; and he shall deliver these words unto another, but the words that are sealed he shall not deliver; neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof. And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the housetops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men, which ever have been among the children of men and which ever will be, even unto the end of the earth. Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it, save it be that three witnesses shall behold it by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein. And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak, as it were, from the dead. Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and woe be unto him that rejecteth the word of God.
insertion after v. 11
And the learned shall say, Bring hither the book, and I will read them; and now because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God. And the man shall say, I cannot bring the book for it is sealed. Then shall the learned say, I cannot read it. Wherefore, it shall come to pass that the Lord God will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say, I am not learned. Then shall the Lord God say unto him, The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them; and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore, thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee. Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work. Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men. For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men, save it be according to their faith.