Isaiah 42:16 — Meaning and Application

I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, {and} refrained myself: {now} will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. {devour: Heb. swallow, or, sup up}

I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

And I will bring the blind by a way {that} they knew not; I will lead them in paths {that} they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. {straight: Heb. into straightness}

They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye {are} our gods.

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.