9He said, “Go and tell this people:

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

10Make the heart of this people calloused;

make their ears dull

and close their eyes.^a

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.”

11Then I said, “For how long, O Lord?”

And he answered:

“Until the cities lie ruined

and without inhabitant,

until the houses are left deserted

and the fields ruined and ravaged,

12until the Lord has sent everyone far away

and the land is utterly forsaken.

13And though a tenth remains in the land,

it will again be laid waste.

But as the terebinth and oak

leave stumps when they are cut down,

so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”