He said, “Go(A) and tell this people:

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
    be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’(B)
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;(C)
    make their ears dull
    and close their eyes.[a](D)
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,(E)
    understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”(F)

11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?”(G)

And he answered:

“Until the cities lie ruined(H)
    and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted(I)
    and the fields ruined and ravaged,(J)
12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away(K)
    and the land is utterly forsaken.(L)
13 And though a tenth remains(M) in the land,
    it will again be laid waste.(N)
But as the terebinth and oak
    leave stumps(O) when they are cut down,
    so the holy(P) seed will be the stump in the land.”(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 6:10 Hebrew; Septuagint ‘You will be ever hearing, but never understanding; / you will be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / 10 This people’s heart has become calloused; / they hardly hear with their ears, / and they have closed their eyes

And He said, “Go, and (A)tell this people:

‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

10 “Make (B)the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
(C)Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”

11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?”

And He answered:

(D)“Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant,
The houses are without a man,
The land is utterly desolate,
12 (E)The Lord has removed men far away,
And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
13 But yet a tenth will be in it,
And will return and be for consuming,
As a terebinth tree or as an oak,
Whose stump remains when it is cut down.
So (F)the holy seed shall be its stump.”

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