1 In the chapter division occurs in a different place from the English BibleNET: 64:1 (63:19b ) and 64:2–12 (64:1–11 ). Beginning with 65:1 the verse numbers in the English Bible and the Hebrew Bible are again the same.
2 Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
3 Or “quake.” נָזֹלּוּ (nazollu) is from the verbal root זָלַל (zalal, “quake”; see II זלל). Perhaps there is a verbal allusion to Judg 5:5, the only other passage where this verb occurs. In that passage the poet tells how the Lord’s appearance to do battle caused the mountains to shake.
4 Heb “to make known your name to your adversaries.” Perhaps the infinitive construct with preposition -לְ (lamed) should be construed with “come down” in v. 1a, or subordinated to the following line: “To make known your name to your adversaries, let the nations shake from before you.”

In other versions

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,

that the mountains might quake at your presence—

as when fire kindles brushwood

and the fire causes water to boil—

to make your name known to your adversaries,

and that the nations might tremble at your presence!

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,

that the mountains would tremble before you!

As 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!

If only you would tear the heavens open

and come down,

so that mountains would quake at your presence—

just as fire kindles brushwood,

and fire boils water—

to make your name known to your enemies,

so that nations would tremble at your presence!

Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down!

How the mountains would quake in your presence!

As fire causes wood to burn

and water to boil,

your coming would make the nations tremble.

Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!

Would that you would tear the heavens and come down;

the mountains would quake before you,

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 presence.

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down,

That the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil,

To make thy name known to thine adversaries,

That the nations may tremble at thy presence!

Public Domain