Isaiah 29:9

⁷ All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel— even all who war against her, laying siege and attacking her— will be like a dream, like a vision in the night,

⁸ as when a hungry man dreams he is eating, then awakens still hungry; as when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking, then awakens faint and parched. So will it be for all the many nations who go to battle against Mount Zion.

Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink.

¹⁰ For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.

¹¹ And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink.
KJV: Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
WEB: Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
ASV: Tarry ye and wonder; take your pleasure and be blind: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
DARBY: Be astounded and astonished, blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
BLB: Pause and be astonished, blind yourselves and be blinded; be drunk, not [from] wine; stagger, not from strong drink!

ÅB: Stirr på hverandre og bli forvirret! Stirr dere blinde, og vær blinde! Dere er drukne, men ikke av vin; dere raver, men ikke av sterk drikk.
OTB: Bli forbløffet og forundret; gjør dere blinde og vær synsløse; de er drukne, men ikke av vin, de sjangler, men ikke av sterk drikk.
B1930: Stirr på hverandre og bli forvirret! Stirr eder blinde, og vær blinde! I er drukne, men ikke av vin; I raver, men ikke av sterk drikk.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 51:21–22
Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one, drunken, but not with wine.
Read in context
Revelation 17:6
I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
Read in context
Isaiah 19:14
The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.
Read in context
Isaiah 33:13–14
You who are far off, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge My might.”
Read in context
Isaiah 49:26
I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Read in context
Isaiah 28:7–8
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
Read in context
Mark 14:41
When Jesus returned the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:7
Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
Read in context