Isaiah 6

1. In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of his robe filled the temple.

2. S’rafim stood over him, each with six wings — two for covering his face, two for covering his feet and two for flying.

3. They were crying out to each other, 3 “More holy than the holiest holiness 3 is Adonai-Tzva’ot! 3 The whole earth is filled 3 with his glory!”

4. The doorposts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke.

5. Then I said, 5 “Woe to me! I [too] am doomed! — 5 because I, a man with unclean lips, 5 living among a people with unclean lips, 5 have seen with my own eyes 5 the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!”

6. One of the s’rafim flew to me with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

7. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, 7 “Here! This has touched your lips. 7 Your iniquity is gone, 7 your sin is atoned for.”

8. Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying, 8 “Whom should I send? 8 Who will go for us?” 8 I answered, “I’m here, send me!”

9. 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: 9 ‘Yes, you hear, but you don’t understand. 9 You certainly see, but you don’t get the point!’

10. “Make the heart of this people [sluggish with] fat, 10 stop up their ears, and shut their eyes. 10 Otherwise, seeing with their eyes, 10 and hearing with their ears, 10 then understanding with their hearts, 10 they might repent and be healed!”

11. I asked, “Adonai, how long?” and he answered, 11 “Until cities become uninhabited ruins, 11 houses without human presence, 11 the land utterly wasted;

12. until Adonai drives the people far away, 12 and the land is one vast desolation.

13. If even a tenth [of the people] remain, 13 it will again be devoured. 13 “But like a pistachio tree or an oak, 13 whose trunk remains alive 13 after its leaves fall off, 13 the holy seed will be its trunk.”