7. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’
8. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’
9. He said, ‘Go and tell this people:‘ “Be ever hearing, but never understanding;be ever seeing, but never perceiving.”
10. Make the heart of this people calloused;make their ears dulland close their eyes.Otherwise they might see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their hearts,and turn and be healed.’
11. Then I said, ‘For how long, Lord?’And he answered:‘Until the cities lie ruinedand without inhabitant,until the houses are left desertedand the fields ruined and ravaged,
12. until the Lord has sent everyone far awayand the land is utterly forsaken.
13. And though a tenth remains in the land,it will again be laid waste.But as the terebinth and oakleave stumps when they are cut down,so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.’