As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
Yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God - literally, we soothed not the face of the Lord. Not even our chastizement has taught us penitence (Isaiah 9:13; Jeremiah 5:3; Hosea 7:10). Diseased, we spun the healing medicine.
That we might turn from our iniquities. - Prayer can only be accepted when joined with the desire to turn from sin to God (Psalms 66:18; Proverbs 28:9).
And understand thy truth - attentively regard thy faithfulness in fulfilling thy promises and also thy threats (Calvin). Or else "thy truth" means thy law (Daniel 8:12). (Maurer.)