Isaiah 64 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

If only you would rip open the sky and come down — the mountains would tremble at your presence!

Like fire igniting dry brush, like fire making water boil — come make your name known to your enemies, so the nations shake at your presence.

When you did terrifying things we never expected, you came down and the mountains trembled at your presence.

Since the beginning of time no one has heard, no ear has picked up, no eye has seen any god besides you who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

You meet those who joyfully do what is right, those who remember your ways. But look — you were angry, and we kept failing. We have been in this state so long — can we even be rescued?

All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. We all shrivel up like a leaf, and our wrongs carry us away like the wind.

No one calls on your name, no one rouses themselves to hold on to you — because you have hidden your face from us and handed us over to the power of our own wrongs.

But now, Yahweh, you are our father. We are the clay — you are the potter. We are all the work of your hands.

Don't be angry beyond all limits, Yahweh. Don't remember our wrongs forever. Please — look at us — we are all your people.

The cities that belong to you have become a wasteland. Zion has become a wasteland. Jerusalem is a desolate ruin.

Our beautiful temple, the one we kept for you, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned to the ground, and everything we treasured lies in ruins.

After all this, will you still hold back, Yahweh? Will you stay silent and crush us beyond what we can bear?