ISAIAH 26
A Song of Victory

The time is coming
when the people of Judah
will sing this song:
"Our city is protected.
The LORD is our fortress,
and he gives us victory.
Open the city gates
for a law-abiding nation
that is faithful to God.
The LORD gives perfect peace
to those whose faith is firm.
So always trust the LORD
because he is forever
our mighty rock.
God has put down our enemies
in their mountain city
and rubbed it in the dirt.
Now the poor and abused
stomp all over that city."

The LORD Can Be Trusted

Our LORD, you always do right,
and you make the path smooth
for those who obey you.
You are the one we trust
to bring about justice;
above all else we want
your name to be honored.
Throughout the night,
my heart searches for you,
because your decisions
show everyone on this earth
how to live right.
Even when the wicked
are treated with mercy
in this land of justice,
they do wrong and are blind
to your glory, our LORD.
Your hand is raised and ready
to punish them,
but they don't see it.
Put them to shame!
Show how much you care for us
and throw them into the fire
intended for your enemies.
You will give us peace, LORD,
because everything we have done
was by your power.
Others have ruled over us
besides you, our LORD God,
but we obey only you.
Those enemies are now dead
and can never live again.
You have punished them--
they are destroyed,
completely forgotten.
Our nation has grown
because of you, our LORD.
We have more land than before,
and you are honored.

The LORD Gives Life to the Dead

When you punished our people,
they turned and prayed
to you, our LORD.
Because of what you did to us,
we suffered like a woman
about to give birth.
But instead of having a child,
our terrible pain
produced only wind.
We have won no victories,
and we have no descendants
to take over the earth.
Your people will rise to life!
Tell them to leave their graves
and celebrate with shouts.
You refresh the earth
like morning dew;
you give life to the dead.