Isaiah 63:17

Render: Why shouldest Thou leave us to wander, O Jehovah, from Thy ways; and harden our heart so that we fear Thee not? etc. Israel had rejected God's guidance, and He had given them up to their sins; how long was this to last? The idea underlying this plea seems to be that the people's faint aspirations Godward were checked and baffled by the continued evidence of Jehovah's displeasure. Some measure of outward success was needed to guide them into the path of obedience, and no such token was vouchsafed.

hardened our heart from thy fear so that we cannot attain to the true fear of God, i.e. true religion or piety. "Harden" in the original is a strong word, recurring only in Job 39:16.

Return for thy servants" sake Cf. Psalms 90:13.