4Will you not have mercy on him who takes pleasure in doing righteousness, even on those who keep in mind your ways? Truly you were angry, and we went on doing evil, and sinning against you in the past.
5For we have all become like an unclean person, and all our good acts are like a dirty robe: and we have all become old like a dead leaf, and our sins, like the wind, take us away.
6And there is no one who makes prayer to your name, or who is moved to keep true to you: for your face is veiled from us, and you have given us into the power of our sins.
7But now, O Lord, you are our father; we are the earth, and you are our maker; and we are all the work of your hand.
8Be not very angry, O Lord, and do not keep our sins in mind for ever: give ear to our prayer, for we are all your people.
9Your holy towns have become a waste, Zion has become a waste, Jerusalem is a mass of broken walls.
10Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers gave praise to you, is burned with fire; and all the things of our desire have come to destruction.
