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 this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God has made salvation its walls and ramparts.

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

Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

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

The mind that is stayed on you, you will keep him in perfect peace, for he trusts in you.

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

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

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.

For he will bring down those who live proudly; the fortified city he will lay low, he will lay low to the ground; he will level it to the dust.

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

It will be trampled down by the feet of the poor and the treading of the needy.

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

The path of the righteous is level, Righteous One; the path of the righteous you make straight.

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

Yes, in the path of your judgments, Yahweh, we wait for you; your name and your reputation are our desire.

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 judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

I have longed for you in the night; yes, my spirit within me seeks you earnestly. For when your judgments come on the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn about righteousness.

10 Let favour 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.

Let favor be shown to the wicked one, but he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he acts wickedly and does not see the majesty of Yahweh.

11 LORD, 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.

Yahweh, your hand is lifted up, but they do not notice. But they will see your zeal for the people and be put to shame, because fire of your adversaries will devour them.

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

Yahweh, you will bring about peace for us; for indeed, you have also accomplished all our works for us.

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

Yahweh our God, other masters besides you have ruled over us; but we praise your name alone.

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.

They are dead, they will not live; they are deceased, they will not arise. Indeed, you came in judgment and destroyed them, and made every memory of them to perish.

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.

You have increased the nation, Yahweh, you have increased the nation; you are honored; you have extended all the borders of the land.

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

Yahweh, in trouble have they looked to you; they whispered prayers when your discipline was on them.

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.

As a pregnant woman nears the time for her to give birth, when she is in pain and cries out in her labor pains, so we have been before you, Lord.

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 been pregnant, we have been in labor, but it is as if we have only given birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.

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.

Your dead will live; their dead bodies will arise. Awake and sing for joy, you who live in the dust; for your dew is the dew of light, and the earth will bring forth its dead.

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 rooms and shut your doors behind you; hide for a little while, until the indignation has passed by.

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, look, Yahweh is about to come out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will uncover her bloodshed, and will no longer conceal her slain.