[1] Oh, that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at Thy presence- [2] as 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! [3] When Thou didst fearsome things which we looked not for, Thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at Thy presence. [4] For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. [5] Thou 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. [6] But 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. [7] And 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. [8] But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand. [9] Be not sorely wroth, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever; behold, see, we beseech Thee, we are all Thy people. [10] Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. [11] Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, is burned up with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste. [12] Wilt Thou refrain Thyself for these things, O LORD? Wilt Thou hold Thy peace and afflict us very sore?
