Chapter 64

Chapter 64

¹ When Thou didst send forth Thine anger like fire in the days of Elijah, the sea was melted, the waters were flames of fire, to make Thy name known to the enemies of Thy people, that the nations may tremble at Thy presence.

² When Thou didst wonderful things, which we expected not, Thou didst reveal Thyself; the mountains trembled at Thy presence.

³ And since the world was, ear hath not heard the report of such mighty deeds, nor hearkened to the speech of rapture, nor hath eye seen, what Thy people saw, the Shekinah of Thy glory, O Lord; for there is none besides Thee, who will do such things for Thy righteous people, who were of old; who hope for Thy salvation.

⁴ The works of our righteous fathers were acceptable in Thy sight, who rejoiced to do Thy will in truth and in righteousness: in the way of Thy goodness and mercy they remembered Thy fear whenever Thy wrath from Thy presence was upon us, because we had sinned: on account of the works of our righteous fathers, we have been saved.

⁵ But we are all as an unclean thing; all our righteousnesses are as an abominable garment, and we all do fade as the fading of a leaf; and because of our sins, we are taken away as by the wind.

⁶ And there is none that prayeth in Thy name willing to lay hold on Thy fear; because Thou hast taken away the fear of Thy Shekinah from us, and Thou hast delivered us to the power of our sins.

⁷ And Thy mercies, O Lord, have been as many upon us as a father’s upon his children; we are the clay, and Thou hast formed us, and we all are the work of Thy hand.

⁸ Let there not be, O Lord, very sore wrath from Thee against us, neither remember iniquities for ever: behold, it is revealed before Thee, that we are all Thy people.

⁹ Thy holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem has become a desolation.

¹⁰ The house of our holiness and of our glory, where our fathers worshipped Thee, is burned up with fire: and every place of our desire hath become a waste.

¹¹ Wilt Thou refrain Thyself for these things, O Lord? and wilt Thou give prosperity for ever to the wicked, who make us servile?