Isaiah 64

64:1 ( 63:19b)¹ If only you would tear apart the sky² and come down!

The mountains would tremble³ before you!

64:2 (64:1) As when fire ignites dry wood,

or fire makes water boil,

let your adversaries know who you are,⁴

and may the nations shake at your presence!

64:3 When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise,⁵

you came down, and the mountains trembled⁶ before you.

64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived,⁷

no eye has seen any God besides you,

who intervenes for those who wait for him.

64:5 You assist⁸ those who delight in doing what is right,⁹

who observe your commandments.¹⁰

Look, you were angry because we violated them continually.

How then can we be saved?¹¹

64:6 We are all like one who is unclean,

all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight.¹²

We all wither like a leaf;

our sins carry us away like the wind.

64:7 No one invokes¹³ your name,

or makes an effort¹⁴ to take hold of you.

For you have rejected us¹⁵

and handed us over to our own sins.¹⁶

64:8 Yet,¹⁷ Lord, you are our father.

We are the clay, and you are our potter;

we are all the product of your labor.¹⁸

64:9 Lord, do not be too angry!

Do not hold our sins against us continually!¹⁹

Take a good look at your people, at all of us!²⁰

64:10 Your chosen²¹ cities have become a desert;

Zion has become a desert,

Jerusalem²² is a desolate ruin.

64:11 Our holy temple, our pride and joy,²³

the place where our ancestors praised you,

has been burned with fire;

all our prized possessions have been destroyed.²⁴

64:12 In light of all this,²⁵ how can you still hold back, Lord?

How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?

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