Isaiah 63:7-64:12

Praise and Prayer 7I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

8He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior.

9In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. Or Savior 9 in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

10Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.

11Then his people recalled Or But may he recall the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,

12who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown,

13who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble;

14like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD . This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.

15Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.

16But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

17Why, LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.

18For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. 19We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called Or We are like those you have never ruled, / like those never called by your name.

1In Hebrew texts 64:1 is numbered 63:19b, and 64:2-12 is numbered 64:1-11. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!

2As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!

3For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

4Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

5You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?

6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

7No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew have made us melt because of our sins.

8Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

9Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD ; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.

10Your sacred cities have become a wasteland; even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation.

11Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins. 12After all this, LORD, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?