26:1 In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a
strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
26:2 Open the
gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.
26:3
You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in
you.
26:4 Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting
Rock.
26:5 For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city.
He lays it low. He lays it low even to the ground. He brings it even to the
dust.
26:6 The foot shall tread it down; Even the feet of the poor, and the
steps of the needy."
26:7 The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make
the path of the righteous level.
26:8 Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for
you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.
26:9 With my soul
have I desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you
earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the
world learn righteousness.
26:10 Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet
he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal
wrongfully, and will not see Yahweh's majesty.
26:11 Yahweh, your hand is
lifted up, yet they don't see; but they will see your zeal for the people, and
be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.
26:12 Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also
worked all our works for us.
26:13 Yahweh our God, other lords besides you
have had dominion over us, but by you only will we make mention of your name.
26:14 The dead shall not live. The deceased shall not rise.
Therefore have you visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to
perish.
26:15 You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the
nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.
26:16 Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer
when your chastening was on them.
26:17 Like as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her
delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs; so we have been before you,
Yahweh.
26:18 We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth,
it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither
have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
26:19 Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and
sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the
earth will cast forth the dead.
26:20 Come, my people, enter into your chambers, and shut your
doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is
past.
26:21 For, behold, Yahweh comes forth out of his place to punish
the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose
her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.