¹⁵ Look down from heaven^(A) and see,
    from your lofty throne,^(B) holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal^(C) and your might?
    Your tenderness and compassion^(D) are withheld^(E) from us.

¹⁷ Why, Lord, do you make us wander^(A) from your ways
    and harden our hearts^(B) so we do not revere^(C) you?
Return^(D) for the sake of your servants,
    the tribes that are your inheritance.^(E)

⁴ Since ancient times no one has heard,
    no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,^(A)
    who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.^(B)
5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right,^(C)
    who remember your ways.
But when we continued to sin against them,
    you were angry.^(D)
    How then can we be saved?
⁶ All of us have become like one who is unclean,^(E)
    and all our righteous^(F) acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,^(G)
    and like the wind our sins sweep us away.^(H)
7 No one^(I) calls on your name^(J)
    or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden^(K) your face from us
    and have given us over^(L) to^[a] our sins.

⁸ Yet you, Lord, are our Father.^(M)
    We are the clay, you are the potter;^(N)
    we are all the work of your hand.^(O)
9 Do not be angry^(P) beyond measure, Lord;
    do not remember our sins^(Q) forever.
Oh, look on us, we pray,
    for we are all your people.^(R)