Isaiah 26

1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will [God] appoint [for] walls and bulwarks.

In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city. He appoints salvation for walls and ramparts.

2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

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

3 Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee: ] because he trusteth in thee.

You will keep him in peace, in peace whose thoughts are fixed on you, because he trusts in you.

4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH [is] everlasting strength:

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

5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, [even] to the ground; he bringeth it [even] to the dust.

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

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

The feet of the poor tramples it down, the footsteps of the needy."

7 The way of the just [is] uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

The way of the righteous is level. O Just One, you make the path of the righteous smooth.

8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

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

9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

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

10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, [yet] will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

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.

11 LORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: [but] they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

LORD, your hand is lifted up, yet they do not see; they see the zeal of the people, and are ashamed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.

12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also worked all our works for us.

13 O LORD our God, [other] lords beside thee have had dominion over us: [but] by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

LORD our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but by you only will we make mention of your name.

14 [They are] dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

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

15 Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed [it] far [unto] all the ends of the earth.

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

16 LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them.

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

17 Like as a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

Like 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.

18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

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.

19 Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Your dead shall live; my dead bodies shall rise. Awake and shout for joy, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of the dawn, and the earth shall bring forth the departed spirits.

20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

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

21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

For, look, the LORD comes forth 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.