Israel’s Prayer

15 Look down from heaven and see(A)
from Your lofty home—holy and beautiful.
Where is Your zeal and Your might?
Your yearning[a] and Your compassion
are withheld from me.
16 Yet You are our Father,
even though Abraham does not know us
and Israel doesn’t recognize us.
You, Yahweh, are our Father;
from ancient times,
Your name is our Redeemer.(B)
17 Why, Yahweh, do You make us stray from Your ways?
You harden our hearts so we do not fear[b] You.(C)
Return, because of Your servants,
the tribes of Your heritage.
18 Your holy people had a possession[c]
for a little while,
but our enemies have trampled down
Your sanctuary.(D)
19 We have become like those You never ruled over,
like those not called by Your name.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:15 Lit The agitation of Your inward parts
  2. Isaiah 63:17 Lit our heart from fearing
  3. Isaiah 63:18 Or Your people possessed Your holy place

Prayer for Mercy and Pardon

15 Lord, look down from heaven;
    look from your holy, glorious home, and see us.
Where is the passion and the might
    you used to show on our behalf?
    Where are your mercy and compassion now?
16 Surely you are still our Father!
    Even if Abraham and Jacob[a] would disown us,
Lord, you would still be our Father.
    You are our Redeemer from ages past.
17 Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path?
    Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?
Return and help us, for we are your servants,
    the tribes that are your special possession.
18 How briefly your holy people possessed your holy place,
    and now our enemies have destroyed it.
19 Sometimes it seems as though we never belonged to you,
    as though we had never been known as your people.

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Footnotes

  1. 63:16 Hebrew Israel. See note on 14:1.