Passionate prayer for the divine favour

Thanksgiving for ancient mercies

7 The Lord’s renown I would celebrate –

all his loving-kindness –

as befits the deeds that the Lord,

so rich in goodness, has wrought for us,

even for the household of Israel –

wrought for us in his pity

and loving-kindness great.

8 ‘Surely my people are they,’ he said,

‘sons who will not prove false.’

And so he became their saviour

from all that did distress them.

9 No envoy was it or angel,

but his own very presence that saved them:

in his love and in his pity

he did himself redeem them;

he took them up and carried them

all the days of old.

10 But as for them, they resisted,

and grieved his holy spirit;

so he turned to be their foe,

and himself did fight against them.

11 Then (Israel) remembered

the days of the old time, (and said):

‘Where is he who brought up from the sea

the shepherd of his flock?

And where is he who set

in their midst his holy spirit;

12 who caused his glorious arm

to go at the right hand of Moses;

who cleft the waters before them,

to make him a name everlasting;

13 who led them through the depths:

like a wild horse in open country

sure-footed, never stumbling.

14 like cattle that descend to the valley,

the Lord’s spirit guiding them to rest.

This was the way you lead your people,

bring glory to your name.’

Passionate entreaty for the devine forgiveness and pity

15 Look down from heaven, and behold

from your holy and glorious palace.

Where are your zeal and your prowess,

the voice of your yearning and pity?

16 Though Abraham knows us not,

and Israel does not regard us,

yet are you, O Lord, our father,

our redeemer from of old is your name.

17 Why do you leave us, Lord,

to wander away from your paths?

And why do you suffer our hearts

to grow hard and strange to your fear?

O return for your servants’ sake,

for the sake of the tribes of your heritage.

18 Why do the wicked make light of your holy place?

Why do our enemies tread down your Temple?

19 We are grown like those whom you rule no more,

who have never been called by your name.

64 O that the heavens you would rend and come down,

that the mountains might quake at your presence –

2 As fire sets brushwood ablaze,

as fire causes water to boil –

to make known your name to your foes

so that nations might tremble before you,

3 while terrible things you do,

surpassing our expectations,

4 unheard-of from olden time!

No ear has ever heard,

no eye has ever seen,

the mighty deeds you will do

for those who wait for you.

5 O that you would meet

with those who are doers of righteousness,

those who remember your ways!

But behold, you were wroth with our sin,

and of broken faith were we guilty.

6 We are all like men defiled,

like a blood-stained cloth is our righteousness;

we are all like withered leaves,

swept away by the blast of our guilt.

7 There is none who calls on your name,

or bestirs himself to lay hold of you.

For your face you have hidden from us,

and delivered us up to our guilt.

8 But now, O Lord, our father are you;

we are the clay, and you are the potter,

the work of your hand are we all.

9 O be not, Lord, exceeding wroth,

and do not remember our guilt for ever.

Behold, look, we beseech you,

for we are all your people.

10 your holy cities are now a desert,

Jerusalem is accursed.

11 Our holy and beautiful house,

wherein our fathers praised you,

has been burned up with fire;

and all the places we cherished

are lying now in ruins.

12 At things like these, O Lord,

can you restrain yourself?

And will you still keep silence,

and afflict us very sore?