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!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.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.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?
Isaiah 64
English Standard Version
from Crossway1Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— (Jud 5:5; 2Sa 22:10; Ps 18:9; Ps 144:5; Mic 1:4)2[1] as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! (Jos 2:9)3When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. (Ex 14:13; Ex 15:11)4From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (Ps 31:19; 1Co 2:9)5You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?[2]6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Ps 90:5; Isa 59:12)7There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in[3] the hand of our iniquities. (Isa 43:22; Ho 7:7)8But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isa 29:23; Isa 45:9; Isa 45:11; Isa 63:16; Ro 9:20)9Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people. (Ps 74:1; Ps 79:8; Isa 57:16)10Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. (Ne 1:3; Ne 2:3)11Our holy and beautiful[4] house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins. (2Ki 25:9; 2Ch 36:19; Ps 74:7; Hag 1:9; Hag 2:3)12Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly? (Isa 42:14; Zec 1:12)