Isaiah 64

1 O that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence,

2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thy adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!

as when fire kindles the brushwood, and 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 thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

When you did awesome things which we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Since ancient times no one has heard, and no ear has perceived, and no eye has seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him.

5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art angry; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Look, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time; and shall we 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.

For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.

8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

But now, LORD, you are our Father, and we are clay, and you are our potter; and we all are the work of your hands.

9 Be not very angry, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

Do not be furious, LORD, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people.

10 Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become like a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

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

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

12 Wilt thou restrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and grievously afflict us?

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