Isaiah 26

1In that day sung is this song in the land of Judah: `We have a strong city, Salvation He doth make walls and bulwark.

1In that day will this song be made in the land of Judah: We have a strong town; he will make salvation our walls and towers.

2Open ye the gates, that enter may a righteous nation, Preserving stedfastness.

2Let the doors be open, so that the upright nation which keeps faith may come in.

3An imagination supported Thou fortifiest peace--peace! For in Thee it is confident.

3The man whose heart is unmoved you will keep in peace, because his hope is in you.

4Trust ye in Jehovah for ever, For in Jah Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> a rock of ages,

4Let your hope be in the Lord for ever: for the Lord Jah is an unchanging Rock.

5For He bowed down the dwellers on high, A city set on high He maketh low, He maketh it low unto the earth, He causeth it to come unto the dust,

5For he has made low those who are lifted up, all the people of the town of pride: he makes it low, crushing it down to the earth; he makes it low in the dust.

6Tread it down doth a foot, Feet of the poor--steps of the weak.

6It will be crushed under the feet of the poor and the steps of those who are in need.

7The path for the righteous <FI>is<Fi> uprightness, O upright One, The path of the righteous Thou dost ponder.

7The way of the good man is straight; the road of the upright is made smooth by you.

8Also, <FI>in<Fi> the path of Thy judgments, O Jehovah, we have waited <FI>for<Fi> Thee, To Thy name and to Thy remembrance <FI>Is<Fi> the desire of the soul.

8We have been waiting for you, O Lord; the desire of our soul is for the memory of your name.

9<FI> With<Fi> my soul I desired Thee in the night, Also, <FI>with<Fi> my spirit within me I seek Thee earnestly, For when Thy judgments <FI>are<Fi> on the earth, The inhabitants of the world have learned righteousness.

9In the night the desire of my soul has been for you; early will my spirit be searching for you; for when your punishments come on the earth, the people of the world will get the knowledge of righteousness.

10The wicked findeth favour, He hath not learned righteousness, In a land of straightforwardness he dealeth perversely, And seeth not the excellency of Jehovah.

10Even if you are kind to the evil-doer, he will not go after righteousness; even in the land of the upright he will still go on in his wrongdoing, and will not see the glory of the Lord.

11O Jehovah, high <FI>is<Fi> Thy hand--they see not, They see the zeal of the people, and are ashamed, Also, the fire--Thine adversaries, consumeth them.

11Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see: let them see ... yes, your haters will be burned up in the fire.

12O Jehovah, Thou appointest peace to us, For, all our works also Thou hast wrought for us.

12Lord, you will give us peace: for all our works are the outcome of your purpose.

13O Jehovah our God, lords have ruled us besides Thee, Only, by Thee we make mention of Thy name.

13O Lord, our God, other lords than you have had rule over us; but in you only is our salvation, and no other name will we take on our lips.

14Dead--they live not, Rephaim, they rise not, Therefore Thou hast inspected and dost destroy them, Yea, thou destroyest all their memory.

14The dead will not come back to life: their spirits will not come back to earth; for this cause you have sent destruction on them, so that the memory of them is dead.

15Thou hast added to the nation, O Jehovah, Thou hast added to the nation, Thou hast been honoured, Thou hast put far off all the ends of earth.

15You have made the nation great, O Lord, you have made it great; glory is yours: you have made wide the limits of the land.

16O Jehovah, in distress they missed Thee, They have poured out a whisper, Thy chastisement <FI>is<Fi> on them.

16Lord, in trouble our eyes have been turned to you, we sent up a prayer when your punishment was on us.

17When a pregnant woman cometh near to the birth, She is pained--she crieth in her pangs, So we have been from Thy face, O Jehovah.

17As a woman with child, whose time is near, is troubled, crying out in her pain; so have we been before you, O Lord.

18We have conceived, we have been pained. We have brought forth as it were wind, Salvation we do not work in the earth, Nor do the inhabitants of the world fall.

18We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have given birth to wind; no salvation has come to the earth through us, and no children have come into the world.

19`Thy dead live--My dead body they rise. Awake and sing, ye dwellers in the dust, For the dew of herbs <FI>is<Fi> thy dew, And the land of Rephaim thou causest to fall.

19Your dead will come back; their dead bodies will come to life again. Those in the dust, awaking from their sleep, will send out a song; for your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the shades.

20Come, My people, enter into thy inner chambers, And shut thy doors behind thee, Hide thyself shortly a moment till the indignation pass over.

20Come, my people, into your secret places, and let your doors be shut: keep yourself safe for a short time, till his wrath is over.

21For, lo, Jehovah is coming out of His place, To charge the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth upon him, And revealed hath the earth her blood, Nor doth she cover any more her slain!'

21For the Lord is coming out of his place to send punishment on the people of the earth for their evil-doing: the earth will let the blood drained out on her be seen, and will keep her dead covered no longer.