Isaiah 63:7–64:12

Praise and Prayer

7 I will tell of the kindnessesn 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 thingso

he has done for Israel,

according to his compassionp and many kindnesses.

8 He said, “Surely they are my people,q

children who will be true to me”;

and so he became their Savior.r

9 In all their distress he too was distressed,

and the angels of his presencet saved them.a

In his love and mercy he redeemedu them;

he lifted them up and carriedv them

all the days of old.w

10 Yet they rebelledx

and grieved his Holy Spirit.y

So he turned and became their enemyz

and he himself foughta against them.

11 Then his people recalledb the days of old,

the days of Moses and his people—

where is he who brought them through the sea,b

with the shepherd of his flock?c

Where is he who set

his Holy Spiritd among them,

12 who sent his glorious arme of power

to be at Moses’ right hand,

who divided the watersf before them,

to gain for himself everlasting renown,g

13 who ledh them through the depths?i

Like a horse in open country,

they did not stumble;j

14 like cattle that go down to the plain,

they were given restk by the Spirit of the Lord.

This is how you guided your people

to make for yourself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heavenl and see,

from your lofty throne,m holy and glorious.

Where are your zealn and your might?

Your tenderness and compassiono are withheldp from us.

16 But you are our Father,q

though Abraham does not know us

or Israel acknowledger us;

you, Lord, are our Father,

our Redeemers from of old is your name.

17 Why, Lord, do you make us wandert from your ways

and harden our heartsu so we do not reverev you?

Returnw for the sake of your servants,

the tribes that are your inheritance.x

18 For a little whiley your people possessed your holy place,

but now our enemies have trampledz down your sanctuary.a

19 We are yours from of old;

but you have not ruled over them,

they have not been calledc by your name.b

64 a Oh, that you would rend the heavensc and come down,d

that the mountainse would tremble before you!

2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze

and causes water to boil,

come down to make your namef known to your enemies

and cause the nations to quakeg before you!

3 For when you did awesomeh things that we did not expect,

you came down, and the mountains trembledi before you.

4 Since ancient times no one has heard,

no ear has perceived,

no eye has seen any God besides you,j

who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.k

5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right,l

who remember your ways.

But when we continued to sin against them,

you were angry.m

How then can we be saved?

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean,n

and all our righteouso acts are like filthy rags;

we all shrivel up like a leaf,p

and like the wind our sins sweep us away.q

7 No oner calls on your names

or strives to lay hold of you;

for you have hiddent your face from us

and have given us overu tob our sins.

8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father.v

We are the clay, you are the potter;w

we are all the work of your hand.x

9 Do not be angryy beyond measure, Lord;

do not remember our sinsz forever.

Oh, look on us, we pray,

for we are all your people.a

10 Your sacred citiesb have become a wasteland;

even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation.c

11 Our holy and glorious temple,d where our ancestors praised you,

has been burned with fire,

and all that we treasurede lies in ruins.

12 After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back?f

Will you keep silentg and punish us beyond measure?