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1 If only you would tear apart the sky and come down!
The mountains would tremble before you!
2 As when fire ignites dry wood,
or fire makes water boil,
let your adversaries know who you are,
and may the nations shake at your presence!
3 When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise,
you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who intervenes for those who wait for him.
5 You assist those who delight in doing what is right,
who observe your commandments.
Look, you were angry because we violated them continually.
How then can we be saved?
6 We are all like one who is unclean,
all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight.
We all wither like a leaf;
our sins carry us away like the wind.
7 No one invokes your name,
or makes an effort to take hold of you.
For you have rejected us
and handed us over to our own sins.
8 Yet, Lord, you are our father.
We are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the product of your labor.
9 Lord, do not be too angry!
Do not hold our sins against us continually!
Take a good look at your people, at all of us!
10 Your chosen cities have become a desert;
Zion has become a desert,
Jerusalem is a desolate ruin.
11 Our holy temple, our pride and joy,
the place where our ancestors praised you,
has been burned with fire;
all our prized possessions have been destroyed.
12 In light of all this, how can you still hold back, Lord?
How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?