Now therefore, our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications,
And cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
O my God, incline thine ear, and hear;
Open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name:
For we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses,
But for thy great mercies' sake.
O Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, hearken and do; defer not,
For thine own sake, my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
SELECTION 27
NATIONAL PENITENCE
HEAR the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel; for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.
There is nought but swearing and breaking faith,
And killing, and stealing, and committing adultery.
FORASMUCH therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him of wheat:
Ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them;
Ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof.
For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins
Ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe,
And that turn aside the needy in the gate from their right.
I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meat-offerings, I will not accept them;
