A Prayer of Penitence

Look down from heaven,

And see from Your habitation, holy

and glorious.

Where are Your zeal and Your 

strength,

The yearning, of Your heart and

Your mercies toward me?

Are they restrained?

Doubtless You are our Father,

Though Abraham was ignorant of

us,

And Israel does not acknowledge us.

You, O LORD, are our Father;

Our Redeemer from Everlasting is

Your name.

O LORD, why have You made us

stray from Your ways,

And hardened our heart from Your 

fear?

Return for Your servants' sake,

The tribes of Your inheritance.

Your holy people have possessed it

but a little while;

Our adversaries have trodden down

Your sanctuary.

We have become like those of old,

over whom You never ruled,

Those who were never called by 

Your name.