Isaiah Chapter 26

A Song of Praise to the LORD

¹ At that time, they’ll sing a song in Judah:

            We have an impregnable city;           

                  it’s set up with secure walls and ramparts.

            ² Open the gates so a good nation can enter,

                  one that stays faithful.

            ³ You keep steadfast minds in perfect peace

                  because they trust in you.

            ⁴ Trust in the LORD forever

                  because in him we have an everlasting Rock.

            ⁵ He brings down low the ones that live up high

                        in their “safe city”;

                  he throws it to the ground.

            ⁶ The poor and helpless trample it.                                         

Is 26:1-6

            ⁷ The road for the righteous is not rough;

                  Righteous One, level out our path.

            ⁸ We conform our way to your judgments, LORD;

                  with all our heart we want to honor you.

            ⁹ At night I long for you;

                        my spirit looks for you earnestly;

                  when the earth experiences your judgments,

                        its people learn goodness.

            ¹⁰ Even if sinners receive grace,

                        they don’t learn goodness;

                  they keep dealing unjustly in an unjust land

                        and don’t sense the LORD’s majesty.                         

Is 26:7-10

            ¹¹ LORD, you’re holding up your fist, but they don’t see it;

                        show them your zeal for your people;

                        humble your adversaries;

                        consume them with fire.

            ¹² You’ll establish peace for us,

                        since you’re the One that actually does for us

                              everything we try to do.

            ¹³ Other lords have ruled us before,

                        but you’re the only one we acknowledge.

            ¹⁴ Those dead rulers won’t live again;

            their departed spirits won’t rise.

                        You’ve punished them with destruction,

                        and wiped out any memory of them.

            ¹⁵ You’ve made this nation great

                        and extended its borders; we honor you.                   

Is 26:11-15

            ¹⁶ We looked to you in distress,

                        able only to whisper a prayer,

                        because you were disciplining us.

            ¹⁷ Like a pregnant woman at delivery time,

                        she writhes and cries out in labor pains;

                        that’s how we were before you, LORD.

                  ¹⁸ We’ve been pregnant, writhing in labor,

                              but nothing came of it;

                        we couldn’t save the world

                              or bring life into it.

            ¹⁹ But even your dead will live again; their corpses will rise;

                        those who lie in the dust will wake up and sing for joy.

                  Your light will fall on them like dew,

                        and the ground will give birth to their departed spirits.

Is 26:16-19

Deliverance for Israel

            ²⁰ Go home, my people,

                        and lock the doors behind you;

                  hide for a while

                        till the LORD’s anger has run its course.

            ²¹ The LORD is coming from heaven

                        to punish people for their sin;

                  the ground will show those whose blood’s been shed;

                        it won’t any longer be able to hide its slain.             

Is 26:20-21