A Vision of the Lord in the Temple

1 In the year that King Uzziah died,+ I had a vision of the Lord. He was on his throne high above, and his robe filled the temple. 2Flaming creatures with six wings each were flying over him. They covered their faces with two of their wings and their bodies with two more. They used the other two wings for flying, 3 as they shouted,

“Holy, holy, holy,

Lord All-Powerful!

The earth is filled

with your glory.”

4 As they shouted, the doorposts of the temple shook, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5Then I cried out, “I'm doomed! Everything I say is sinful, and so are the words of everyone around me. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord All-Powerful.”

6One of the flaming creatures flew over to me with a burning coal that it had taken from the altar with a pair of metal tongs. 7It touched my lips with the hot coal and said, “This has touched your lips. Your sins are forgiven, and you are no longer guilty.”

8After this, I heard the Lord ask, “Is there anyone I can send? Will someone speak for us?”

“I'll go,” I answered. “Send me!”

9 Then the Lord told me to go and speak this message to the people:

“You will listen and listen,

but never understand.

You will look and look,

but never see.”

The Lord also said,

10“Make these people stubborn!

Make them stop up

their ears,

cover their eyes,

and fail to understand.

Don't let them turn to me

and be healed.”

11Then I asked the Lord, “How long will this last?”

The Lord answered:

Until their towns are destroyed and their houses are deserted, until their fields are empty, 12and I have sent them far away, leaving their land in ruins. 13If only a tenth of the people are left, even they will be destroyed. But just as stumps remain after trees have been cut down,+ some of my chosen ones will be left.