Isaiah 64

1Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

2As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!footnote a

3When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

4For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.footnote b

5Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

7And 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, because of our iniquities.footnote cfootnote d

8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

9Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

10Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

11Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

12Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

A Prayer for God’s Power

1If only You would rend the heavens and come down,so that mountains would quake at Your presence, 2as fire kindles the brushwoodand causes the water to boil,to make Your name known to Your enemies,so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!

3When You did awesome works that we did not expect,You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence. 4From ancient times no one has heard,no ear has perceived,no eye has seen any God besides You,who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.footnote a

5You welcome those who gladly do right,who remember Your ways.Surely You were angry, for we sinned.How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? 6Each of us has become like something unclean,and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;footnote bwe all wither like a leaf,and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. 7No one calls on Your nameor strives to take hold of You.For You have hidden Your face from usand delivered us into the handfootnote cof our iniquity.

8But now, O LORD, You are our Father;we are the clay, and You are the potter;we are all the work of Your hand. 9Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure;do not remember our iniquity forever.Oh, look upon us, we pray;we are all Your people! 10Your holy cities have become a wilderness.Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation. 11Our holy and beautiful temple,where our fathers praised You,has been burned with fire,and all that was dear to us lies in ruins. 12After all this, O LORD,will You restrain Yourself?Will You keep silentand afflict us beyond measure?