Isaiah Called to Be a Prophet
1 In the year thatKing Uzziah died, Isaw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of Hisrobefilled the temple.
2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face,with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3 And one cried to another and said:
# “Holy, holy, holyistheLordof hosts;
# The whole earthisfull of His glory!”
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 So I said:
“Woeisme, for I am undone!
# Because Iama man ofunclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
TheLordof hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coalwhichhe had taken with the tongs fromthe altar.
7 And hetouched my mouthwithit,and said:
“Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.”
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send,
# And who will go forUs?”
Then I said, “HereamI! Send me.”
9 And He said, “Go, andtell this people:
‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 “Makethe heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
# Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?”
And He answered:
# “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant,
The houses are without a man,
The land is utterly desolate,
12 TheLordhas removed men far away,
And the forsaken placesaremany in the midst of the land.
13 But yet a tenthwillbein it,
And will return and be for consuming,
As a terebinth tree or as an oak,
Whose stumpremainswhen it is cut down.
# Sothe holy seedshallbeits stump.”