Isaiah 64

1 Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence,

Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—

2 as when fire kindles the brushwood, and the fire causes the waters to boil; to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence.

as when fire kindles the brushwood, and the fire causes the water to boil. Make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!

3 When you did awesome things which we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

When you did awesome things which we didn’t look for, you came down, and the mountains quaked at your presence.

4 Since ancient times no one has heard, and no ear has perceived, and no eye has seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him.

For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him.

5 You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Look, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time; and shall we be saved?

You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time. Shall we be saved?

6 For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

7 There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.

There is no 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 by means of our iniquities.

8 But now, YHWH, you are our Father, and we are clay, and you are our potter; and we all are the work of your hands.

But now, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.

9 Do not be furious, YHWH, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people.

Don’t be furious, LORD. Don’t remember iniquity forever. Look and see, we beg you, we are all your people.

10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become like a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste.

Our holy and our beautiful house where our fathers praised you is burnt with fire. All our pleasant places are laid waste.

12 Will you refrain yourself for these things, YHWH? Will you hold your peace, and afflict us very severely?

Will you hold yourself back for these things, LORD? Will you keep silent and punish us very severely?