8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking:

Who will I send?

Who will go for us?

I said:

Here I am. Send me.

9 And he replied:

Go! Say to these people:

Keep listening, but do not understand;y

keep looking, but do not perceive.

10 Make the mindsD of these people dull;

deafen their ears and blind their eyes;

otherwise they might see with their eyes

and hear with their ears,

understand with their minds,

turn back, and be healed.z

11 Then I said, “Until when, Lord?”aa And he replied:

Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants,ab

houses are without people,

the land is ruined and desolate,