1 O h that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence,

Oh, that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down,—that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

2 a s when fire kindleth the brushwood, and the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!

—as fire kindleth brushwood, as the fire causeth water to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations might tremble at thy presence!

3 W hen thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence.

When thou didst terrible things we looked not for, thou camest down, and the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

4 F or from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God besides thee, who worketh for him that waiteth for him.

Never have heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor hath eye seen a God beside thee, who acteth for him that waiteth for him.

5 T hou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou wast wroth, and we sinned: in them have we been of long time; and shall we be saved?

Thou meetest him that rejoiceth to do righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: (behold, thou wast wroth, and we have sinned:) in those is perpetuity, and we shall be saved.

6 F or we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

And we are all become as an unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have carried us away;

7 A nd there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us by means of our iniquities.

and there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hidden thy face from us, and hast caused us to melt away through our iniquities.

8 B ut now, O Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

And now, Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

9 B e not wroth very sore, O Jehovah, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, look, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

Be not wroth very sore, O Jehovah, neither remember iniquity for ever. Behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

10 T hy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Thy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

11 O ur holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste.

Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burnt up with fire, and all our precious things are laid waste.

12 W ilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Jehovah? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

Wilt thou restrain thyself in presence of these things, Jehovah? Wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?