1 Oh, that You would rend the heavens!

That You would come down!

That the mountains might shake at Yourpresence—

2 As fire burns brushwood,

As fire causes water to boil—

To make Your name known to Your adversaries,

Thatthe nations may tremble at Your presence!

3 WhenYou did awesome thingsforwhichwe did not look,

You came down,

The mountains shook at Your presence.

4 For since the beginning of the world

Menhave not heard nor perceived by the ear,

Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,

Who acts for the one who waits for Him.

5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,

Whoremembers You in Your ways.

You are indeed angry, for we have sinned—

In these ways we continue;

And we need to be saved.

6 But we are all like an uncleanthing,

And allour righteousnessesarelike filthy rags;

We allfade as a leaf,

And our iniquities, like the wind,

Have taken us away.

7 Andthereisno 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 because of our iniquities.

8 But now, OLord,

Youareour Father;

Wearethe clay, and You ourpotter;

And all wearethe work of Your hand.

9 Do not be furious, OLord,

Nor remember iniquity forever;

Indeed, please look—we allareYour people!

10 Your holy cities are a wilderness,

Zion is a wilderness,

Jerusalem a desolation.

11 Our holy and beautiful temple,

Where our fathers praised You,

Is burned up with fire;

And allour pleasant things are laid waste.

12 Will You restrain Yourself because of thesethings,OLord?

Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very severely?