1If only you would rip the heavens apart and come down! The mountains would tremble in your presence! ²²⁶

2In the same way that fire burns wood and makes water boil, make your reputation known to your enemies, so that nations will tremble in your presence!

3In the past you did things we weren't anticipating. You came down and the mountains trembled in your presence!

4Since the beginning, no one has heard about, no one has paid attention to, and no one has seen any God except you, the one who helps those who place their confidence in you.

5You join with those who are glad, and with those who do what's right and remember to follow your ways. But when we went on sinning, you became angry. How can we be saved if we go on like this? ²²⁷

6We've all become unclean, and all the good things we do are like dirty rags. We wither and die like autumn leaves, and our sins, like the wind, blow us away.

7There's no one who calls for you or really wants to hold on to you, because you have hidden your face from us and let us drown in our own sins.

8But you, Lord, are our Father. We're the clay, you're the potter. You made us all with your own hands.

9Please limit your anger, Lord, and don't remember our sins forever. Look at us, and see that we are all your people.

10Your holy cities have been turned into a wilderness; Zion has become a desert; yes, even Jerusalem is an abandoned ruin.

11Our beautiful, holy Temple where our forefathers praised you has been burned down, and all that we treasured has been destroyed.

12In view of all this, are you still going to refuse to help us? Are you going to stay quiet and punish us so severely?