1 Oh that you would tear the heavens,that you would come down,that the mountains might quake at your presence.
2 As 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 When you did awesome things which we didn’t look for,you came down, and the mountains quaked at your presence.
4 For 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 You 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 For 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 There 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 But now, Lord, you are our Father.We are the clay, and you our potter.We all are the work of your hand.
9 Don’t be furious, Lord,and don’t remember iniquity forever.Look and see, we beg you,we are all your people.
10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness.Zion has become a wilderness,Jerusalem a desolation.
11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you,is burned with fire;and all our pleasant places are laid waste.
12 Will you hold yourself back for these things, Lord?Will you keep silent, and punish us very severely?