Prayer for Mercy

• 15 and see from the lofty residence of your holiness and glory.
• Where are your zeal and strength?
  • [fn] and mercy to me hold themselves back.
  • 16 are our father, although Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us.
• You, Yahweh are our father,
  • Our Redeemer from of old is your name.
  • 17  You harden our heart from your ways[fn] you.
• Turn back for the sake of your servants,
  • the tribes of your inheritance.
  • 18 [fn] took possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
  • 19 [fn]
  • the mountains would quake before you,
  • 2 [fn] as fire kindles brushwood, the fire causes water to boil,
• to make your name known to your adversaries,
  • that the nations might tremble from your[fn]
  • 3 which we did not[fn] you came down; the mountains quaked because of your[fn]
  • 4 times they have not heard, have not listened,
• no eye has seen a God except you;
  • he[fn] for the one who waits for him.
  • 5  one who does righteousness.
• In your ways they remember you.
  • Look! You were angry and we sinned against them in ancient times and we were saved.
  • 6  and all our deeds of justice like a menstrual cloth,
• And we all wither like a leaf,
  • and our iniquities take us away like the wind.
  • 7  who pulls himself up to keep hold of you,
• for you have hidden your face from us,[fn]
  • and melted us into the hand of our iniquity.
  • 8 are our father; we are the clay and you are our[fn]
  • and we all are the work of your hand.
  • 9  and you must not remember iniquity forever!

Look! Behold, now! We all are your people!

• 10 [fn] have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
• 11 [fn] where our ancestors[fn] praised you has [fn] by fire, and all our precious objects have become ruins.[fn]
• Will you control yourself because of these, Yahweh?
  • Will you be silent?
    • And will you oppress us exceedingly?