Read Isaiah chapter 6 (New Living Translation) on maBible, the Bible online. In this chapter: Isaiah’s Cleansing and Call.
Isaiah’s Cleansing and Call
1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.
2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.
3 They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.
7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,
‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
10 Harden the hearts of these people.
Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
and turn to me for healing.”
11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”
And he replied,
“Until their towns are empty,
their houses are deserted,
and the whole country is a wasteland;
12 until the Lord has sent everyone away,
and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive,
it will be invaded again and burned.
But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down,
so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”
Chapter themes
The end of a reign — In the year that king Uzziah died
The vision of the Lord — I saw also the Lord
The King on his throne — sitting upon a throne
God above all — high and lifted up
Glory fills the temple — filled the temple
Standing before the throne — Above it stood
The angels of fire — the seraphims
Winged heavenly creatures — each one had six wings
Not seeing God — with twain he covered his face
The humility of angels — with twain he covered his feet
Ready to serve — with twain he did fly
The answering song — And one cried unto another
The holiness of God — Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts
Glory seen everywhere — the whole earth is full of his glory
The voice that shakes — the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried
Glory filling the sanctuary — the house was filled with smoke
Dread before God — Woe is me! for I am undone
Unworthy lips — I am a man of unclean lips
A defiled people — I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips
Seeing the King — mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts
The heavenly messenger — Then flew one of the seraphims unto me
The purifying fire — having a live coal in his hand
Fire from the altar — which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar
The purifying touch — And he laid it upon my mouth
Forgiveness granted — thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged
Entendre la voix de Dieu — J'ai entendu le Seigneur dire
Qui vais-je envoyer — Qui vais-je envoyer
Le Dieu qui dit nous — qui va marcher pour nous ?
Répondre à l'appel — J'ai répondu
Me voici, envoie-moi — Me voici, envoie-moi !
Notes and references
King Uzziah died in 740 b.c.
Greek version reads And he said, “Go and say to this people, / ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. / When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.’ / For the hearts of these people are hardened, / and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— / so their eyes cannot…