Open English Translation ISA Chapter 6

6 In the year that King Uzziyah died, I saw my master sitting on a tall, elevated throne, and his long robe covered the temple floor.[ref] 2 There were ‘serafs’ standing above him. They each had six wings—they used two to cover their faces, two to cover their feet, and two to fly with. 3 They were calling out to each other,

“Army commander Yahweh is holy, yes, fully holy.

The whole earth is filled with his splendour.”[ref]

4 Whenever one of them spoke, the sound of their voices make the doorways shake, and the temple was filled with smoke,[ref] 5 and I said,

“This isn’t going to end well for me. Yes, I’m doomed because I am a man with unclean lips,

and I live among a people with unclean lips,

and yet my eyes have seen the king: army commander Yahweh.”

6 Then one of the ‘serafs’ flew to me. He was holding a hot coal that he’d taken off the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with that coal and said,

“Look, this has touched your lips,

and your guilt has been taken away

≈and the price has been paid for your sin.”

8 Then I heard my master ask, “Who will I send? Who will go on our behalf?”

“I’m here,” I answered. “Send me.”

9 Then he said,

“Go and tell that nation:

‘Listen closely, but don’t understand,

and see clearly, but don’t perceive.’[ref]

10 Fatten the heart of this people,

≈and dull its ears and dim its eyes.

Otherwise it might see with its eyes

≈and hear with its ears

and understand with its heart,

→and turn and be healed.”

11 So I asked, “Until when, master?”

And he replied:

“Until cities are desolate—without inhabitants,

≈and the houses are without people,

→and the land is a ruined wasteland,

12 and Yahweh has driven the people far away,

→and the middle of the country is almost totally deserted.

13 If there’s still a tenth of the people in it,

→then disaster will turn back and burn everything.

Like an elm or an oak tree that’s been cut down but still has a stump—

→so too the sacred remnant is the nation’s stump.”