₁Why don't you tear the sky apart and come down? The mountains would see you and shake with fear. ₂They would tremble like water boiling over a hot fire. Come and reveal your power to your enemies, and make the nations tremble at your presence! ₃There was a time when you came and did terrifying things that we did not expect; the mountains saw you and shook with fear. ₄No one has ever seen or heard of a God like you, who does such deeds for those who put their hope in him. ₅You welcome those who find joy in doing what is right, those who remember how you want them to live. You were angry with us, but we went on sinning; in spite of your great anger we have continued to do wrong since ancient times. ₆All of us have been sinful; even our best actions are filthy through and through. Because of our sins we are like leaves that wither and are blown away by the wind. ₇No one turns to you in prayer; no one goes to you for help. You have hidden yourself from us and have abandoned us because of our sins.

₈But you are our father, LORD. We are like clay, and you are like the potter. You created us, ₉so do not be too angry with us or hold our sins against us for ever. We are your people; be merciful to us.