Isaiæ 26
1 In die illa cantabitur canticum istud in terra Iuda: Urbs fortitudinis nostræ Sion salvator, ponetur in ea murus et antemurale.
At that time, this will be the song that is sung in the land of Judah: “Ours is a strong city! Its walls and defenses are our salvation!
2 Aperite portas, et ingrediatur gens iusta, custodiens veritatem.
Open the gates so the nation who follows the right can come in, the nation that stays faithful.
3 Vetus error abiit: servabis pacem: pacem, quia in te speravimus.
You will keep in complete peace those who keep their minds focused on you, because they trust in you.
4 Sperastis in Domino in sæculis æternis, in Domino Deo forti in perpetuum.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
5 Quia incurvabit habitantes in excelso, civitatem sublimem humiliabit. Humiliabit eam usque ad terram, detrahet eam usque ad pulverem.
He brings down those who live so high and mighty; he demolishes the proud city with its high walls, bringing it down to the ground, into the dust.
6 Conculcabit eam pes, pedes pauperis, gressus egenorum.
The poor tread it underfoot; the oppressed walk on top of it.
7 Semita iusti recta est, rectus callis iusti ad ambulandum.
You God, do what is right, and you straighten out the way for those who live right; you smooth out their path.
8 Et in semita iudiciorum tuorum Domine sustinuimus te: nomen tuum, et memoriale tuum in desiderio animæ.
Yes, we follow your instructions, Lord, we put our hope in you. What we most want is to remember you and your wonderful character.
9 Anima mea desideravit te in nocte: sed et spiritu meo in præcordiis meis de mane vigilabo ad te. Cum feceris iudicia tua in terra, iustitiam discent habitatores orbis.
I look for you in the night; deep inside me I long for you. When your laws are shown to the earth, then the people of the world learn what is right.
10 Misereamur impio, et non discet iustitiam: in terra sanctorum iniqua gessit, et non videbit gloriam Domini.
Though grace is shown to the wicked, they don't learn to do right. Even in a country where people do what's right, they continue to do evil and they don't think about how great the Lord is.
11 Domine exaltetur manus tua, et non videant: videant, et confundantur zelantes populi: et ignis hostes tuos devoret.
Lord, you are holding your hand up, but they don't see it. Let them see your passionate commitment for your people, and be embarrassed; may the fire reserved for your enemies destroy them!
12 Domine dabis pacem nobis: omnia enim opera nostra operatus es nobis.
Lord, you give us peace and prosperity; everything we've achieved you have done for us.
13 Domine Deus noster, possederunt nos domini absque te, tantum in te recordemur nominis tui.
Lord our God, there have been other lords besides you who have ruled us, but you are the only one we worship.
14 Morientes non vivant, gigantes non resurgant: propterea visitasti et contrivisti eos, et perdidisti omnem memoriam eorum.
They are dead, they will not live again; they will not rise from the grave. Lord, you punished them and destroyed them—even wiping out every memory about them.
15 Indulsisti genti Domine, indulsisti genti: numquid glorificatus es? Elongasti omnes terminos terræ.
You have made the nation grow, Lord, you have made the nation grow. You have expanded our borders of the land, and we honored you.
16 Domine in angustia requisierunt te, in tribulatione murmuris doctrina tua eis.
Lord, when we were suffering we came to you, pouring out our prayers like whispers as you disciplined us.
17 Sicut quæ concipit, cum appropinquaverit ad partum, dolens clamat in doloribus suis: sic facti sumus a facie tua Domine.
Just as a pregnant woman giving birth tosses about and cries out in pain, that's what we were like in your presence, Lord.
18 Concepimus, et quasi parturivimus, et peperimus spiritum: salutes non fecimus in terra, ideo non ceciderunt habitatores terræ.
However, even though we became pregnant and we tossed about in pain, we gave birth to nothing but air. We did not bring about the salvation of the earth, and the people of the world have not become alive.
19 Vivent mortui tui, interfecti mei resurgent: expergiscimini, et laudate qui habitatis in pulvere: quia ros lucis ros tuus, et terram gigantum detrahes in ruinam.
But those who died in you, Lord, will live! Their bodies will rise again! Wake up, and sing for joy, you people sleeping in the dust, for the dew you receive is like the dew of the morning giving life to those in the grave.
20 Vade populus meus, intra in cubicula tua, claude ostia tua super te, abscondere modicum ad momentum, donec pertranseat indignatio.
My people, go inside your homes and close your doors behind you. Hide there for a little while until the fury has passed.
21 Ecce enim Dominus egredietur de loco suo, ut visitet iniquitatem habitatoris terræ contra eum: et revelabit terra sanguinem suum, et non operiet ultra interfectos suos.
Watch out! The Lord is coming from where he lives to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will reveal the blood that has been shed on it; the earth won't hide those who have been killed any no longer.”
