Old Testament · Isaiah

Isaiah 26

A Song of Salvation

1In that day this song shall be sung in the land of Judah: "A strong city is ours; salvation (Yeshuah) he sets as walls and rampart."

2Open the gates, that a righteous nation, keeping faithfulness, may enter.
3The sustained mind you keep in peace, peace; for in you it trusts.
4Trust in the LORD forever and ever, for in Yah the LORD is a rock of ages.
5For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty town; he lays it low, lays it low to the ground, brings it down to the dust^a.
6The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.
7The way of the righteous is uprightness; O Upright One, you make level the path of the righteous.
8Yea, in the path of your judgments^b, the LORD, we waited for you; to your name and to your remembrance is the desire of the soul^c.
9With my soul I desired you in the night; yea, with my spirit^d within me I seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
10Let the wicked be shown grace, yet he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals wrongfully, and does not see the majesty of the LORD.
11The LORD, your hand is lifted up, yet they do not see; let them see and be ashamed of zeal for the people; yea, the fire of your adversaries shall devour them.
12The LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for also all our works you have wrought for us.
13The LORD our God, lords besides you have had dominion over us; but by you alone do we mention your name.
14The dead do not live, the shades do not rise; therefore you punished and destroyed them, and made all remembrance of them perish.
15You have increased the nation, O LORD, you have increased the nation; you are glorified; you have extended far all the ends of the earth.
16The LORD, in distress they sought you; they poured out a whispered prayer when your chastisement was upon them.
17As a pregnant woman draws near to give birth, writhes and cries out in her pangs, so were we before your face, the LORD.
18We were pregnant, we writhed; as it were, we gave birth to wind; we have wrought no salvation (Yeshuah) in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.
19Your dead shall live, my dead bodies shall rise. Awake and sing for joy, dwellers in the dust! For your dew is a dew of lights, and the earth shall cast forth the shades.
20Go, my people, enter your chambers and shut your door behind you; hide yourself for a little moment, until the wrath passes over.
21For behold, the LORD comes forth from his place to visit the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth upon him; and the earth shall uncover her blood, and shall no longer cover her slain.