A Prayer for God’s Power

1I wish that you would rend the heavens, and then descend! The mountains would flow away before your face.

2They would melt, as if thoroughly burned by fire. The waters would burn with fire, so that your name might be made known to your enemies, so that the nations would be stirred up before your face.

3When you will perform miracles, we will not be able to withstand them. You descended, and the mountains flowed away before your presence.

4From ages past, they have not heard it, and they have not perceived it with the ears. Apart from you, O God, the eye has not seen what you have prepared for those who await you.

5You have met with those who rejoice in doing justice. By your ways, they will remember you. Behold, you have been angry, for we have sinned. In this, we have continued, but we will be saved.

6And we have all become like the unclean. And all our justices are like a rag of menstruation. And we have all fallen away, like a leaf. And our iniquities have carried us away, like the wind.

7There is no one who calls upon your name, who rises up and holds fast to you. You have concealed your face from us, and you have crushed us with the hand of our own iniquity.

8And now, O Lord, you are our Father, yet truly, we are clay. And you are our Maker, and we are all the works of your hands.

9Do not be so angry, O Lord, and no longer call to mind our iniquity. Behold, consider that we are all your people.

10The city of your sanctuary has become a desert. Zion has become a desert. Jerusalem is desolate.

11The house of our sanctification and of our glory, where our fathers praised you, has been completely consumed by fire, and all our admirable things have been turned into ruins.

12Should you restrain yourself, O Lord, concerning these things? Should you remain silent, and afflict us vehemently?