Isaiah 6

1 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, and the house was full of his glory. 2 Seraphs stood around him. Each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew. † 3 They called to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of armies. The whole earth is full of his glory.” † 4 The lintel shook at their voices, and the house filled with smoke. 5 I said, “Woe to me! I am pierced to the heart. I am a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies.”

6 One of the seraphs was sent to me, holding a coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth and said, “Look, this has touched your lips. It will take away your wrongdoings and cleanse your sins.” 8 Then I heard the Lord’s voice ask, “Whom should I send, and who will go to this people?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: You will certainly hear, but you will not understand. You will certainly see, but you will not perceive.” 10 “This people’s heart has grown dull. Their ears have heard heavily, and they have closed their eyes, so that they might not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, turn back, and I would heal them.”

11 I asked, “How long, Lord?” He answered, “Until cities lie deserted and uninhabited, houses stand empty, and the land is left desolate.” 12 “Afterward God will send the people far away, but those left in the land will multiply.” 13 “A tenth will still remain, though it will again be plundered, like a terebinth or an acorn falling from its husk.”