1 O h that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence.

2 A s when fire kindles the brushwood, and the fire causes the water to boil; Make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!

3 W hen you did awesome things which we didn’t look for, you came down, and the mountains quaked at your presence.

4 F or from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him.

5 Y ou meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time. Shall we be saved?

6 F or we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

7 T here is no one who calls on your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.

8 B ut now, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.

9 D on’t be furious, Yahweh, and don’t remember iniquity forever. Look and see, we beg you, we are all your people.

10 Y our holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

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

12 W ill you hold yourself back for these things, Yahweh? Will you keep silent, and punish us very severely?