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. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.

2 Open all of you the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.

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

3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.

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

4 Trust all of you in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

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

5 For he brings down them that 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 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, even the feet of the poor, and 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 way of the just is uprightness: you, most upright, do weigh the path of the just.

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

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

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

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

10 Let favour be showed 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 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.

11 LORD, when your 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 your enemies shall devour them.

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.

12 LORD, you will ordain peace for us: for you also have wrought all our works in us.

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

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

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

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

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 You have increased the nation, O LORD, you have increased the nation: you are glorified: you had 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 you, they poured out a prayer when your chastening was upon them.

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

17 Like a woman with child, that draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cries out in her pangs; so have we been in your sight, 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, 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 Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, all of you that dwell in dust: for your dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

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 Come, my people, enter you into your chambers, and shut your doors about you: hide yourself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation pass over.

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 comes 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, 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.