Isaiah 26

1 In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.

In that day they shall sing this song in the land of Judea; Behold a strong city; and he shall make salvation [its] wall and bulwark.

2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.

Open you the gates, let the nation enter that keeps righteousness, and keeps truth,

3 You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.

supporting truth, and keeping peace: for on you, O Lord,

4 Trust in the LORD forever; for in the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting Rock.

they have trusted with confidence for ever, the great, the eternal God;

5 For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city. He lays it low. He lays it low even to the ground. He brings it even to the dust.

who have humbled and brought down them that dwell on high, you shall cast down strong cities, and bring them to the ground.

6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.”

And the feet of the meek and lowly shall trample them.

7 The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.

The way of the godly is made straight: the way of the godly is also prepared.

8 Yes, in the way of your judgments, LORD, we have waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.

For the way of the Lord is judgment: we have hoped in your name, and on the remembrance [of you],

9 With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

which our soul longs for: my spirit seeks you very early in the morning, O God, for your commandments are a light on the earth: learn righteousness, you that dwell upon the earth.

10 Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see the LORD’s majesty.

For the ungodly one is put down: no one who will not learn righteousness on the earth, shall be able to do the truth: let the ungodly be taken away, that he see not the glory of the Lord.

11 LORD, your hand is lifted up, yet they do not see; but they will see your zeal for the people and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.

O Lord, your arm is exalted, yet they knew it not: but when they know they shall be ashamed: jealousy shall seize upon an untaught nation, and now fire shall devour the adversaries.

12 LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.

O Lord our God, give us peace: for you have rendered to us all things.

13 LORD our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but we will only acknowledge your name.

O Lord our God, take possession of us: O Lord, we know not [any] other beside you: we name your name.

14 The dead shall not live. The departed spirits shall not rise. Therefore you have visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish.

But the dead shall not see life, neither shall physicians by any means raise [them] up: therefore you have brought [wrath] upon [them], and slain [them], and have taken away every male of them. Bring more evils upon them, O Lord;

15 You have increased the nation, O LORD. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.

bring more evils on the glorious ones of the earth.

16 LORD, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.

Lord, in affliction I remembered you; your chastening was to us with small affliction.

17 Just as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs, so we have been before you, LORD.

And as a woman in travail draws near to be delivered, [and] cries out in her pain; so have we been to your beloved.

18 We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

We have conceived, O Lord, because of your fear, and have been in pain, and have brought forth the breath of your salvation, which we have wrought upon the earth: we shall not fall, but all that dwell upon the land shall fall.

19 Your dead shall live. Their dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the departed spirits.

The dead shall rise, and they that are in the tombs shall be raised, and they that are in the earth shall rejoice: for the dew from you is healing to them: but the land of the ungodly shall perish.

20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.

Go, my people, enter into your closets, shut your door, hide yourself for a little season, until the anger of the Lord have passed away.

21 For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.

For, behold, the Lord is bringing wrath from [his] holy place upon the dwellers on the earth: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall not cover her slain.