Isaiah 6:1–11

ISAIAH’S CALL AND MISSION

6 In the year that King Uzziahk died, I saw the Lordl seated on a high and loftym throne,n and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 SeraphimA were standing above him; they each had six wings:o with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.p 3 And one called to another:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies;

his gloryq fills the whole earth.r

4 The foundations of the doorways shooks at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said:

Woe is met for I am ruinedB

because I am a man of unclean lips

and live among a people of unclean lips,u

and because my eyes have seen the King,

the Lord of Armies.

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altarv with tongs. 7 He touched my mouthw with it and said:

Now that this has touched your lips,

your iniquity is removed

and your sin is atoned for.x

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 mindsC 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,