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.
2 Open
the gates, that
the righteous
nation may enter:
the one which
keeps faith.
3 You
will keep whoever’s
mind is steadfast
in perfect peace,
because he trusts
in you.
4 Trust in
the LORD
forever;
for in the
LORD,
the LORD, is
an everlasting
Rock.
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.
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
uprightness.
You who are
upright make the
path of the
righteous level.
8 Yes, in
the way of
your judgments,
LORD, we have
waited for you.
Your name and
your renown are
the desire of
our soul.
9 With
my soul I
have desired you
in the night.
Yes, with my
spirit within me
I will seek
you earnestly;
for when your
judgments are in
the earth, the
inhabitants of the
world learn
righteousness.
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 the LORD’s
majesty.
11 LORD,
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.
12 LORD,
you will ordain
peace for us,
for you have
also done all
our work for
us.
13 LORD
our God, other lords
besides you have
had dominion over
us,
but we will
only acknowledge your
name.
14 The
dead shall not
live.
The departed
spirits shall not
rise.
Therefore you
have visited and
destroyed them,
and caused all
memory of them
to perish.
15 You
have increased the
nation, O LORD.
You have
increased the
nation!
You are glorified!
You have enlarged
all the borders
of the land.
16 LORD,
in trouble they
have visited you.
They poured out
a prayer when
your chastening
was on them.
17 Just 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,
LORD.
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.
19 Your
dead shall live.
Their 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 out
the departed
spirits.
20 Come,
my people, enter
into your rooms,
and shut your
doors behind you.
Hide yourself for
a little moment,
until the
indignation is
past.
21 For,
behold, the LORD
comes 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.