1[1] Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!2As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!3For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.4Since 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.5You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.7No-one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to[2] our sins.8Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.9Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our sins for ever. Oh, look upon us we pray, for we are all your people.10Your sacred cities have become a wasteland; even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation.11Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins.12After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?
Isaiah 64
English Standard Version
1Oh 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)