Isaiah 64

A Prayer for God's Intervention and the Acknowledgment of Human Sinfulness

2 min read

1

Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might flow down at your presence,

 2

As when the melting fire burns, the fire causes the waters to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!

 3

When you did terrible things which we looked not for, you came down, the mountains flowed down at your presence.

 4

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside you, what he has prepared for him that waits for him.

 5

You meet him that rejoices and works righteousness, those that remember you in your ways: behold, you are wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

 6

But 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.

 7

And there is none that calls on your name, that stirs up himself to take hold of you: for you have hid your face from us, and have consumed us, because of our iniquities.

 8

But now, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand. ¶

 9

Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech you, we are all your people.

 10

Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

 11

Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

 12

Will you refrain yourself for these things, O LORD? will you hold your peace, and afflict us very sore?