Isaiah 26

1 On that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: A strong city have we; his aid will he grant [us] as walls and defence.

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.

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

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

3 The confiding mind wilt thou keep in perfect peace; because he trusteth in thee.

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

4 Trust ye in the Lord unto eternity; for in Yah the Lord is everlasting protection.

Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.

5 For he bendeth down the dwellers of the height; the lofty fortress—he layeth it low; he layeth it low, along the ground; he casteth it down to the dust.

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.

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

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

7 The path of the just is straight: thou, most upright, dost ever level the road of the just.

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

8 Yea, on the path of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; for thy name, and for the remembrance of thee, was the longing of our soul.

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

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

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.

10 If favor be shown to the wicked, he will not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not regard 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 Yahweh’s majesty.

11 Lord, thy hand was raised high, but they would not see: oh that they might see, and be ashamed, [thy] zeal for the people; yea, the fire which shall devour them—thy enemies.

Yahweh, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they will see your zeal for the people and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.

12 Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us; for also all our works hast thou accomplished for us.

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

13 O Lord our God, lords have had dominion over us beside thee; [but] of thee only would we make mention, —of thy name.

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

14 [They are] dead, they will not live [again]; [they are] departed, they will not rise [again]; therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made to perish every memorial of them.

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.

15 Thou hast done more for the nation, O Lord, thou hast done more for the nation; thou hast glorified thyself: thou hast enlarged all the ends of the earth.

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

16 Lord, in trouble have they sought thee, they poured out earnest prayers when thy chastening was upon them.

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

17 Like as a pregnant woman, that is near giving birth, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs: so have we been in thy presence, O Lord.

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, Yahweh.

18 We have been pregnant and in pain, [but it was] as though we brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the land; and the inhabitants of the world have not 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 shall live, my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing ye, that dwell in the dust; for a dew on herbs is thy dew, and the earth shall cast out the departed.

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.

20 Go, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy door behind thee: hide thyself but for a little moment, until the indignation be passed away.

Come, my people, enter into your rooms, 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 visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth on them: and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more be a cover over her slain.

For, behold, Yahweh 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.