[1] O that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains
might quake at thy presence-- [2] as when fire kindles brushwood and the
fire causes water to boil-- to make thy name known to thy adversaries, and
that the nations might tremble at thy presence! [3] When thou didst
terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains
quaked at thy presence. [4] From of old no one has heard or perceived by
the ear, no eye has seen a God besides thee, who works for those who wait
for him. [5] Thou meetest him that joyfully works righteousness, those that
remember thee in thy ways. Behold, thou wast angry, and we sinned; in our
sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? [6] We have all
become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a
polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the
wind, take us away. [7] There is no one that calls upon thy name, that
bestirs himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us,
and hast delivered us into the hand of our iniquities. [8] Yet, O LORD,
thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou art our potter; we are all
the work of thy hand. [9] Be not exceedingly angry, O LORD, and remember
not iniquity for ever. Behold, consider, we are all thy people. [10] Thy
holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness,
Jerusalem a desolation. [11] Our holy and beautiful house, where our
fathers praised thee, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places
have become ruins. [12] Wilt thou restrain thyself at these things, O LORD?
Wilt thou keep silent, and afflict us sorely?