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?