A plea from the ruins

15Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious dwelling. Where are your zeal and your mighty deeds? The stirring of your inward parts and your compassions are withheld from me.

16For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Yahweh, are our Father; our Redeemer from of old is your name.

17Why, Yahweh, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts from fearing you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance.

18Your holy people possessed it for a little while; our adversaries have trampled your sanctuary.

19We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, those who were never called by your name. If only you would tear open the heavens and come down; before you the mountains would quake.