Isaiah 26

1 At that time, ^{a26:1 Lit. On that day} people will sing this song ^{b26:1 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsac MT read time, this song will be sung; LXX reads time, they will sing that song} in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God crafts victory, its walls and ramparts. ^{c26:1 So 4QIsac; 1QIsaa MT read walls and ramparts; LXX reads wall and rampart}ISV — Isaiah 26:1

2 Open your ^{d26:2 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read the} gates, so the righteous nation that safeguards its faith may enter.ISV — Isaiah 26:2

3 You will keep perfectly peaceful ^{e26:3 Lit. peace, peace; so 1QIsaa MT; LXX Syr read peace} the one whose mind remains focused on you, because he remains ^{f26:3 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab LXX; 4QIsac MT read trusts} in you.ISV — Isaiah 26:3

4 “Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD ^{g26:4 So 1QIsaa MT; 4QIsab reads the LORD God; LXX reads the Lord, the Lord} you have an everlasting rock.ISV — Isaiah 26:4

5 For he has made drunk ^{h26:5 So MT 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsab 4QIsac MT read has brought low; LXX reads has humbled and brought down} the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low ^{i26:5 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads He levels it, he levels it} to the ground casting it down to the dust,ISV — Isaiah 26:5

6 by the feet of the oppressed who trample it, ^{j26:6 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads The foot tramples it} by the footsteps of the needy. ^{k26:6 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads oppressed}ISV — Isaiah 26:6

7 “The path of the righteous is level; O Upright One, ^{l26:7 So 1QIsaa MT; 4QIsac reads they go straight ahead; LXX lacks this line} you make safe ^{m26:7 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read smooth or you prepare} the way of justice. ^{n26:7 So 1QIsaa 4QIsac; MT LXX read of the righteous ones}ISV — Isaiah 26:7

8 Yes, LORD, in the path of your judgments we wait; ^{o26:8 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads we wait for you} your name and your Law ^{p26:8 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsac MT read your renown; cf. LXX} are the ^{q26:8 So 1QIsaa MT; 4QIsab reads my} soul’s desire.ISV — Isaiah 26:8

9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me searches for you. For when your judgments come upon the earth, the world’s inhabitants learn righteousness.ISV — Isaiah 26:9

10 If favor is shown to the wicked, they don’t learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they act perversely and do not perceive the majesty of the LORD.ISV — Isaiah 26:10

11 “LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. And ^{r26:11 So 1QIsaa; cf. LXX; the Heb. lacks And} let them see your zeal for your ^{s26:11 Lit. the; so 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks your} people and be put to shame— yes, let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them!ISV — Isaiah 26:11

12 LORD, you will decide ^{t26:12 So 1QIsaa; MT reads prepare or give; LXX reads LORD, give} peace for us, for you have indeed accomplished all our achievements for us.ISV — Isaiah 26:12

13 O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but through you alone we acknowledge your name.ISV — Isaiah 26:13

14 The dead won’t live, and ^{u26:14 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsaa corrector MT lack and} the departed spirits won’t rise— to that end, you punished and destroyed them, then locked away ^{v26:14 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read wiped out} all memory of them.ISV — Isaiah 26:14

15 “But you have enlarged the nation, ^{w26:15 So 1QIsaa 4QIsab} LORD; you have enlarged the nation. ^{x26:15 So 1QIsaa; MTms lacks this line} You have gained honor; you have extended all the borders of the land.ISV — Isaiah 26:15

16 LORD, they ^{y26:16 So 1QIsaa MT; MTmss LXXmss read we; LXX reads I remembered you} came to you in distress; they poured out their secret ^{z26:16 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsab MT read out a magical} prayer when your chastenings were ^{aa26:16 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read your chastening was} afflicting ^{bb26:16 Lit. upon} them.ISV — Isaiah 26:16

17 Just as a pregnant woman writhes and cries out during her labor when she is about to give birth, so were we because of you, LORD.ISV — Isaiah 26:17

18 We were pregnant, writhing in pain, but we gave birth only to wind. We have not won your ^{cc26:18 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks your} victory on earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world been born.”ISV — Isaiah 26:18

19 “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Those who live in the dust will wake up and shout for joy! ^{dd26:19 So 1QIsaa; MT reads Wake up and shout for joy, you; LXX reads Those in the dust will rejoice, for} For your dew is like the dew of dawn, and the earth will give birth to the dead.ISV — Isaiah 26:19

20 Come, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors ^{ee26:20 So 1QIsaa MT; MTqere reads door} behind you. Hide yourselves ^{ff26:20 So 1QIsaa; MT reads yourself} for a little while until the fury has passed by.ISV — Isaiah 26:20

21 For see, the LORD is coming from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins; the earth will reveal the blood that has been shed on it, and will no longer conceal its slain.”ISV — Isaiah 26:21