³ Tell your children about it in the years to come,
    and let your children tell their children.
    Pass the story down from generation to generation.

⁷ I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love.
    I will praise the Lord for all he has done.
I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel,
    which he has granted according to his mercy and love.
⁸ He said, “They are my very own people.
    Surely they will not betray me again.”
    And he became their Savior.
⁹ In all their suffering he also suffered,
    and he personally^[a] rescued them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them.
    He lifted them up and carried them
    through all the years.
¹⁰ But they rebelled against him
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he became their enemy
    and fought against them.

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^[b] 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.