Isaiah 26

1 In that [prophesied, appointed] day this song [song of praise, hymn] will be sung [with joyful voices, in triumphant celebration] in the land [territory, region] of Judah: We have a strong [mighty, fortified] city; salvation [deliverance, victory] is established [set, appointed] as its walls [barriers, defenses] and ramparts [strongholds, fortresses]. word study 2 Open [to engrave or carve] the gates [city entrances or temple doors] so a righteous [just or righteous, as seen in government] nation [a Gentile, a large group of people] may enter [go or come, approaching someone or a place]— one that [preserving stedfastness, keeping faith] remains [to keep or obey, protecting and attending to] faithful [trustworthy and reliable, like God’s promises]. word study 3 You will keep [preserve, watch over] in perfect [complete, wellness] peace [shalom, harmony] the steadfast [unwavering, firm] of mind [intention, thoughts], because he [the one who is trusting] trusts [has confidence, faith] in You [relying on Your power, goodness]. word study 4 Trust [have confidence, rely on] in the LORD [Yehovah, the Eternal One] forever [for all eternity, perpetually], because GOD [the Lord God, Yehovah] the LORD [Yehovah, the Rock of Ages] is the Rock [a foundation, a refuge] eternal [everlasting, forever unchanging]. word study 5 For He has humbled [bowed down, brought low] those who dwell [reside, abide] on high [in lofty places, exalted]; He lays [brings down, demolishes] the lofty [proud, elevated] city low [to the ground, in the dust]. He brings [casts, throws] it down to the ground [earth, land]; He casts [throws, brings] it into the dust [dry earth]. word study 6 Feet [of the humble] trample it down— the feet [a foot] of the oppressed [afflicted, humble, or weak], the steps [beat, footstep, or occurrence] of the poor [those in need of help or assistance]. word study 7 The path [way, journey] of the righteous [just, upright] is level [straight, smooth]; You clear [make straight, direct] a straight [upright, just] path for the upright [those made right with God, the just]. word study 8 Yes, we wait [patiently, with expectation] for You, O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel]; we walk [follow, obey] in the path [way, journey] of Your judgments [justice, righteous decrees]. Your name [identity, character] and renown [fame, memorial] are the desire [longing, yearning] of our souls [inner being, spirit]. word study 9 My soul [the essence of my being] longs for You in the night [a time of darkness and adversity]; indeed, my spirit [the breath of life] seeks You at dawn [early, with earnestness]. For when Your judgments [righteous decisions] come upon the earth [the land, the world], the people of the world [inhabitants of the tevel, the earth and its inhabitants] learn [receive guidance, instruction] righteousness [justice and moral integrity]. word study 10 Though [divine] grace [favor, kindness] is shown to the [morally wrong, guilty] wicked man, he does not [acquire knowledge, understand] learn righteousness [justice, God’s standard]. In the [soil, ground, territory] land of [integrity, virtue] righteousness he acts unjustly [wrongly] and fails to see [perceive, behold] the majesty [greatness, glory] of the [Yehovah] LORD. word study 11 O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], Your hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] is upraised [lifted up, exalted], but they do not see [perceive, have a vision of] it. They will see [behold, have insight into] Your zeal [strong feelings of jealousy or envy, passionate commitment] for Your people [a nation] and be put to shame [experience guilt, feel embarrassed]. The fire [burning, flame] set for Your enemies [those who oppose You, adversaries] will consume [devour, eat] them! word study 12 O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], You will establish [set, ordain] peace [shalom, completeness and wellness] for us. For all [everything] that we have accomplished [done, wrought], You have done [worked, enabled] for us [on our behalf]. word study 13 O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the supreme deity], other lords [rulers, masters] besides [except, apart from] You have had dominion [rule, authority], but Your name [identity, reputation] alone [only, exclusively] do we confess [acknowledge, make mention of, remember]. word study 14 The dead [they are deceased, lifeless] will not live [be revived, have life]; the departed spirits [Rephaim, ghosts, shades] will not rise [be resurrected, stand up]. Therefore [so, thus, for this reason] You have punished [visited, overseen] and destroyed [desolated, annihilated] them; You have wiped out [made to perish, destroyed] all [every, the whole] memory [remembrance, recollection] of them. word study 15 You have enlarged [increased, added to] the nation, O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]; You have enlarged [increased, grown] the nation. You have gained [obtained, been honored with] glory [honor, praise] for Yourself; You have extended [stretched, expanded] all the borders [boundaries, limits] of the land [earth, territory]. word study 16 O [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] LORD, they sought [visited, came to] You in their [times of, midst of] distress [trouble, affliction]; when You [as their Father] disciplined [chastened, corrected] them, they poured out [uttered, sent up] a quiet [whispered, private] prayer [cry for help, heartfelt supplication]. word study 17 As a woman [pregnant] with child about to give birth [to beget, deliver a child] writhes [to twist, in pain] and cries out [to cry out, in her pangs] in pain [in sorrow, with distress], so were we [thus, in like manner] in Your presence [before Your face, in Your sight], O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 18 We were with child [conceived, became pregnant]; we writhed [twisted, experienced intense pain] in pain; but we gave birth [brought forth, delivered] to wind [a blast of air]. We have given no [absolutely no, none] salvation [deliverance, rescue] to the earth [land, world], nor brought any life [victorious life, prosperity] into the world [inhabitants of the earth, global community]. word study 19 Your dead will live; their bodies [carcasses, lifeless corpses] will rise [be resurrected, stand up]. Awake [be roused, stir from sleep] and sing [shout for joy, overcome with praise], you who dwell [reside, have your home] in the dust [dry earth, mortal flesh]! For your dew [moisture, reviving power] is like the dew [refreshing rain] of the morning [new life, fresh beginning], and the earth [land, physical realm] will bring forth [give birth to, yield] her dead [those who have perished, departed spirits]. word study 20 Go, my people [nation, those called by God], enter your rooms [chambers, private places] and shut your doors [the entrances to your inner life] behind you. Hide [conceal, withdraw] yourselves a little while [for a brief moment, a short time] until the wrath [indignation, intense anger] has passed [crossed over, been appeased]. word study 21 For behold [look, see], the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is coming out [to emerge, to depart] of His dwelling [place, abode] to punish [to visit, to reckon] the inhabitants [those who dwell, the people] of the earth [land, territory] for their iniquity [moral evil, sin]. The earth [land, ground] will reveal [to uncover, to disclose] her bloodshed [blood, violence] and will no longer [still, anymore] conceal [to cover, to hide] her slain [those who have been killed, the dead]. word study