rd

Isaiah 64

1 The Prophet prayeth for the sinnes of the people. 6 Man’s righteousness is like a filthy cloth.
1.Oh, that thou woldest break the heavens, and come down, and that the mountains might melt at thy presence!
2.As the melting fire burned, as the fire caused the waters to boil, (that thou mightest declare thy Name to thy adversaries) the people did tremble at thy presence.
3.When thou didest terrible things, which we looked not for, thou camest down, and the mountains melted at thy presence.
4.For since the beginning of the world they have not heard nor understand with the ear, neither hath the eye seen another God beside thee, which doeth so to him that waiteth for him.
5.Thou didest mete him, that rejoiced in thee, & did justly: they remembered thee in thy ways: behold, thou art angry, for we have sinned: yet in them is continuance, and we shal be saved.
6.But we have all been as an unclean thing and all our righteousness is as filthy cloutes, and we all do fade like a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away.
7.And there is none that calleth upon thy Name, neither that stirreth up him self to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us because of our iniquities.
8.But now, ô Lord, thou art our Father: we are the clay, and thou art our potter, and we all are the work of thine hands.
9.Be not angry, ô Lord, above measure, neither remember iniquity for ever: lo, we beseech thee behold, we are all thy people.
10.Thine holie cities lie waste: Zión is a wilderness, and Jerusalém a desert.
11.The House of our Sanctuarie and of our glorie, where our fathers praised thee, is burnt up with fire, and all our pleasant things are wasted.
12.Wilt thou hold thy self still at these things, ô Lord? wilt thou hold thy peace and afflict us above measure?

Notes

1-a.
The Prophet continues his prayer, desiring God to declare his love toward his Church by miracles, & mighty power as he did in mount Sinai.
2-b.
Meaning, the rain, hail, fire, thunder, and lightenings.
4-c.
S. Paul uses the same kind of admiration, 1 Cor. 2.9, marveling at God’s great benefits showed to his Church by the preaching of the Gospel.
5-d.
You showed favour toward our fathers, when they trusted in you, and walked after your commandments.
5-e.
They considered your great mercies.
5-f.
That is, in your mercies, which he calls the ways of the Lord.
5-g.
You will have pity on us.
6-h.
We are justly punished and brought into captivity, because we have provoked you to anger, and though we would excuse ourselves, yet our righteousness, and best virtues are before you as vile clothes, or (as some read) like the menstruous clothes of a woman.
8-i.
Albeit o Lord, by your just judgement you may utterly destroy us, as the potter may his pot, yet we appeal to your mercies, whereby it has pleased you to adopt us to be your children.
9-k.
For so the flesh judges when God does not immediately send succour.
10-l.
Which were dedicate to your service and to call upon your Name.
11-m.
Wherein we rejoiced and worshipped you.
12-n.
That is, at the contempt of your own glory though our sins have deserved this, yet you will not suffer your glory thus to be diminished.