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; salvation is established as its walls and ramparts.

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

Open the gates so a righteous nation may enter— one that remains faithful.

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

You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.

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

Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.

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 has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust.

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

Feet trample it down— the feet of the oppressed, the steps of the poor.

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; You clear a straight path for the upright.

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.

Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.

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.

My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

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.

Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD.

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.

O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!

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

O LORD, You will establish peace for us. For all that we have accomplished, You have done for us.

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

O LORD our God, other lords besides You have had dominion, but Your name alone do we confess.

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.

The dead will not live; the departed spirits will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them; You have wiped out all memory of them.

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 enlarged the nation, O LORD; You have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for Yourself; 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.

O LORD, they sought You in their distress; when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer.

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 woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O 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 were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We have given no salvation to the earth, nor brought any life into the world.

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 bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her 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 your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.

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 coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.