The LORD will let the people be governed by immature boys.

A time will come when the members of a clan will choose one of their number and say to him, "You at least have something to wear, so be our leader in this time of trouble."

Yes, Jerusalem is doomed! Judah is collapsing! Everything they say and do is against the LORD; they openly insult God himself.

Then you will say to yourself, 'Who bore all these children for me? I lost my children and could have no more. I was exiled and driven away--- who brought these children up? I was left all alone--- where did these children come from?' "

You have made even my closest friends abandon me, and darkness is my only companion.

When I look beside me, I see that there is no one to help me, no one to protect me. No one cares for me.

As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

"Don't worry about them! They are blind leaders of the blind; and when one blind man leads another, both fall into a ditch."

I am the LORD your God; I strengthen you and tell you, 'Do not be afraid; I will help you.' "

The LORD has chosen Cyrus to be king. He has appointed him to conquer nations; he sends him to strip kings of their power; the LORD will open the gates of cities for him. To Cyrus the LORD says,

But God will never abandon the faithful or ever give help to evil people.

It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Although I was like a husband to them, they did not keep that covenant.

Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. After spitting on the man's eyes, Jesus placed his hands on him and asked him, "Can you see anything?"

Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but could not see a thing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.

The Lord's hand will come down on you now; you will be blind and will not see the light of day for a time." At once Elymas felt a dark mist cover his eyes, and he walked around trying to find someone to lead him by the hand.

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They were not faithful to the covenant I made with them, and so I paid no attention to them.