As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: and we entreated not thy face, O Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and think on thy truth.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּתוּב֙ בְּתוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵ֛ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בָּ֣אָה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וְלֹֽא־חִלִּ֜ינוּ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ לָשׁוּב֙ מֵֽעֲוֺנֵ֔נוּ וּלְהַשְׂכִּ֖יל בַּאֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
All of this affliction has come upon us. Yet we have not sought you in prayer, O Lord our God, to repent from our wrongdoings and reflect upon your truth. Their obstinacy was so profound that amidst their trials, they failed to appeal to God, and even when they did, their prayers did not seek a turning from their sins. True repentance involves contemplating the truth of God.
As stated in the Mosaic Law, the justice of the punishment is illustrated when it is proclaimed: all these wicked deeds have befallen us; yet we have not sought the Lord our God, asking Him to turn away from our sins and to enlighten us in all Your truth, O Lord. Despite the numerous serious afflictions that have come upon us, we remained unwilling to embrace repentance, to turn away from our previous transgressions, and to honor You by adhering to Your commands. Consequently, the prophet declares:
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS