Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 9:8

"O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee." — Daniel 9:8 (ASV)

Confusion of face. —Repeated from Daniel 9:7, so as to bring into stronger contrast the mercy of God (Daniel 9:9) with the “righteousness” mentioned in Daniel 9:7. St. Jerome well remarks, “Post sententiam judicantis provocat eum ad clementiam.” The absolute mercy and forgiveness of God is implied by the article in this verse, just as His absolute righteousness is in Daniel 9:7.