Prayer for Mercy

^7 (A)From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. ^(B)Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. ^(C)But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

¹⁶ “O Lord, ^(A)according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, ^(B)your holy hill, ^(C)because for our sins, and for ^(D)the iniquities of our fathers, ^(E)Jerusalem and your people have become ^(F)a byword among all who are around us. ¹⁷ Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,^{[a] (G)}make your face to shine upon ^(H)your sanctuary, which is desolate. ^18 (I)O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see ^(J)our desolations, and ^(K)the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. ¹⁹ O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. ^(L)Delay not, ^(M)for your own sake, O my God, because ^(N)your city and ^(O)your people are called by your name.”