Isaiah 26

1In 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.

2Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.footnote a

3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.footnote bfootnote c

4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:footnote d

5For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

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

7The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

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

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

10Let favour be shewed 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.

11LORD, when thy 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 thine enemies shall devour them.footnote e

12LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.footnote f

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

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

15Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

16LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.footnote g

17Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

18We 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.

19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

20Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

21For, behold, the LORD cometh 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.footnote h

A Song of Salvation

1In 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. 2Open the gates so a righteous nation may enter—one that remains faithful. 3You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind,because he trusts in You. 4Trust in the LORD forever,because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal. 5For 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. 6Feet trample it down—the feet of the oppressed,the steps of the poor.

7The path of the righteous is level;You clear a straight path for the upright. 8Yes, we wait for You, O LORD;we walk in the path of Your judgments.Your name and renownare the desire of our souls. 9My soul longs for You in the night;indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn.footnote aFor when Your judgments come upon the earth,the people of the world learn righteousness. 10Though grace is shown to the wicked man,he does not learn righteousness.In the land of righteousness he acts unjustlyand fails to see the majesty of the LORD.

11O LORD, Your hand is upraised,but they do not see it.They will see Your zeal for Your peopleand be put to shame.The fire set for Your enemieswill consume them! 12O LORD, You will establish peace for us.For all that we have accomplished,You have done for us. 13O LORD our God, other lords besides You have ruled over us,but Your name alone do we confess.

14The 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. 15You 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.

16O LORD, they sought You in their distress;when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer. 17As a woman with child about to give birthwrithes and cries out in pain,so were we in Your presence, O LORD. 18We 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.

19Your 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.

20Go, my people, enter your roomsand shut your doors behind you.Hide yourselves a little whileuntil the wrath has passed. 21For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwellingto punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.The earth will reveal her bloodshedand will no longer conceal her slain.