Isaiah 26:1-18 ▼

1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; Walls and bulwarks doth He appoint for salvation.

2 Open ye the gates, That the righteous nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in.

3 The mind stayed on Thee Thou keepest in perfect peace; Because it trusteth in Thee.

4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever, For the LORD is GOD, an everlasting Rock.

5 For He hath brought down them that dwell on high, The lofty city, laying it low, laying it low even to the ground, Bringing it even to the dust.

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

7 The way of the just is straight; Thou, Most Upright, makest plain the path of the just.

8 Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for Thee; To Thy name and to Thy memorial is the desire of our soul.

9 With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; Yea, with my spirit within me have I sought Thee earnestly; For when Thy judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

10 Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, And will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

11 LORD, Thy hand was lifted up, yet they see not; They shall see with shame Thy zeal for the people; Yea, fire shall devour Thine adversaries.

12 LORD, Thou wilt establish peace for us; For Thou hast indeed wrought all our works for us.

13 O LORD our God, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us; But by Thee only do we make mention of Thy name.

14 The dead live not, the shades rise not; To that end hast Thou punished and destroyed them, And made all their memory to perish.

15 Thou hast gotten Thee honour with the nations, O LORD, Yea, exceeding great honour with the nations; Thou art honoured unto the farthest ends of the earth.

16 LORD, in trouble have they sought Thee, Silently they poured out a prayer when Thy chastening was upon them.

17 Like 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 at Thy presence, O LORD.

18 We 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 land; Neither are the inhabitants of the world come to life.