> [[isaiah-63|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-65|Next →]] --- # Isaiah, Chapter 64 ## Chapter 64 1 As when brushwood is set ablaze, ^isaiah-64-1 or fire makes the water boil! Then your name would be made known to your enemies and the nations would tremble before you, 2 While you worked awesome deeds we could not hope for, ^isaiah-64-2 3 such as had not been heard of from of old. ^isaiah-64-3 No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you working such deeds for those who wait for him. 4 Would that you might meet us doing right, ^isaiah-64-4 that we might be mindful of you in our ways! Indeed, you are angry; we have sinned, we have acted wickedly. 5 We have all become like something unclean, ^isaiah-64-5 all our just deeds are like polluted rags; We have all withered like leaves, and our crimes carry us away like the wind. 6 There are none who call upon your name, ^isaiah-64-6 none who rouse themselves to take hold of you; For you have hidden your face from us and have delivered us up to our crimes. ### A Final Plea 7 Yet, LORD, you are our father; ^isaiah-64-7 we are the clay and you our potter: we are all the work of your hand. 8 Do not be so very angry, LORD, ^isaiah-64-8 do not remember our crimes forever; look upon us, who are all your people! 9 Your holy cities have become a wilderness; ^isaiah-64-9 Zion has become wilderness, Jerusalem desolation! 10 Our holy and glorious house ^isaiah-64-10 in which our ancestors praised you Has been burned with fire; all that was dear to us is laid waste. 11 Can you hold back, LORD, after all this? ^isaiah-64-11 Can you remain silent, and afflict us so severely? \* (64:2) The translation here omits some words repeated in the Hebrew from [63:19] (“would that you would come down, with the mountains trembling before you”). \* (64:7] – [11) The motifs of father ([63:16]) and creator (clay and potter, [29:16]; [45:9]) are adduced to move the Lord to action in view of the damage done to his “holy cities” and “glorious house.” a. (64:3) ([[1-corinthians-02|1 Cor 2]]:9]. b. (64:5) [Is 1:30]; [34:4]. c. (64:9) [Ps 79:1]; [Lam 1]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[isaiah-63|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-65|Next →]]