Isaiah’s Call and Mission

6 In the year that King Uzziah p died, I saw the Lord q seated on a high and lofty r throne, s and His robe t filled the temple. 2 Seraphim u were standing above Him; each one had six wings: v with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. w 3 And one called to another:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of * Hosts;

His glory x fills the whole earth. y

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

5 Then I said:

Woe is me a for I am ruined b

because I am a man of * unclean lips

and live among a people of unclean lips, c

and because my eyes have seen the King,

the Lord of Hosts.

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

Now that this has touched your lips,

your wickedness is removed

and your sin is atoned for. f

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

Who should 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; g

keep looking, but do not perceive.

10 Dull the minds h of these people;

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. i

11 Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” j And He replied:

Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, k

houses are without people,

the land is ruined and desolate,

12 and the Lord drives the people far away,

leaving great emptiness in the land.

13 Though a tenth will remain in the land,

it will be burned again.

Like the terebinth or the oak

that leaves a stump when felled,

the holy * seed l is the stump. m