A Prayer for God’s Power

1O that thou wouldest cleaue the heauens in sunder & come downe, that the mountaines might melt away at thy presence:

2Like as at an hotte fire, and that the malitious might boyle away as the water doth vpon the fire: whereby thy name might be knowen among thyne enemies, and that the gentiles might tremble before thee.

3When thou wroughtest wonderous straunge workes, we looked not for them: thou camest downe, and the hilles melted at thy presence.

4For since the beginning of the worlde it hath not ben hearde or perceaued, neither hath any eye seene another God beside thee, whiche doest so muche for them that put their trust in thee.

5Thou helpest hym that doth right with chearefulnesse, and them that thinke vpon thee in thy wayes: but lo, thou hast ben angrie, for we offended, and haue ben euer in sinne, though the worlde hath cleaued to them, yet shall we be saued.

6We are all as an vncleane thing, and all our righteousnesse are as tilthy ragges: we fal euerychone as the leafe, for our sinnes cary vs away lyke the winde.

7There is no man that calleth vpon thy name, that standeth vp to take hold by thee: therefore hidest thou thy face from vs, and consumest vs, because of our sinnes.

8But nowe, O Lorde, thou father of ours, we are thy clay, and thou art our potter, and we all are the worke of thy handes.

9Be not to sore displeased O Lord, and kepe not our offences to long in thy remembraunce: but consider that we all are thy people.

10The cities of thy sanctuarie lye waste, Sion is a wildernesse, and Hierusalem a desert.

11Our holy house whiche is our beautie where our fathers praysed thee, is brent vp: yea, all our commodities and pleasures are wasted away.

12Wylt thou not be intreated O Lorde, for all this wylt thou holde thy peace, and scourge vs so sore?