Prayer for Mercy

15 (A)Look down from heaven and see,
    (B)from your holy and beautiful[a] habitation.
Where are (C)your zeal and your might?
    The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion
    are held back from me.
16 For (D)you are our Father,
    though Abraham does not know us,
    and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our Father,
    (E)our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17 O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways
    and (F)harden our heart, so that we fear you not?
(G)Return for the sake of your servants,
    the tribes of your heritage.
18 (H)Your holy people held possession for a little while;[b]
    (I)our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
19 (J)We have become like those over whom you have never ruled,
    like those who are not called by your name.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:15 Or holy and glorious
  2. Isaiah 63:18 Or They have dispossessed your holy people for a little while

15 Look down from heaven and see,
    from your holy and glorious perch.
Where are your energy and your might,
    your concern and your pity?
    Don’t hold back![a]
16 You are surely our father,
    even though Abraham doesn’t know us,
    and Israel doesn’t recognize us.
You, Lord, are our father;
    your reputation since long ago is that of our redeemer.
17 Why do you lead us astray, Lord,
    from your ways?
Why do you harden our heart
    so we don’t fear you?
Return for the sake of your servants
    the tribes that are your heritage!
18 Why did the wicked bring down your holy place?[b]
    Why did our enemies trample your sanctuary?
19 For too long we have been like those you don’t rule,
    like those not known by your name.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:15 Heb uncertain
  2. Isaiah 63:18 Cf LXX, Vulg; Heb uncertain