Isaiah 6:1–8

The Lord Appoints Isaiah to Speak for Him

6In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was seated on his throne. His long robe filled the temple. He was highly honored.

²Above him were seraphs. Each of them had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces. With two wings they covered their feet. And with two wings they were flying. ³They were calling out to one another. They were saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who rules over all.

The whole earth is full of his glory.”

⁴The sound of their voices caused the stone doorframe to shake. The temple was filled with smoke.

⁵“How terrible it is for me!” I cried out. “I’m about to be destroyed! My mouth speaks sinful words. And I live among people who speak sinful words. Now I have seen the King with my own eyes. He is the Lord who rules over all.”

⁶A seraph flew over to me. He was holding a hot coal. He had used tongs to take it from the altar. ⁷He touched my mouth with the coal. He said, “This has touched your lips. Your guilt has been taken away. Your sin has been paid for.”

⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord. He said, “Who will I send? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me!”