Isaiah 26 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

On that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city — he sets up rescue as its walls and rampart.

Open the gates! Let the upright nation enter — the one that keeps faith.

The mind that is fixed on you — you keep in total peace, total peace, because it trusts in you.

Trust in Yahweh forever, for in Yah, Yahweh, is the Rock of ages.

For he has brought down those who live in the heights — the elevated city, he levels it, levels it to the ground, brings it down to the dust.

Feet trample it — the feet of the poor, the steps of those who have nothing.

The path of the just is level — you, the Upright One, make smooth the road the just walk on.

Yes, in the path of your judgments, Yahweh, we wait for you. Your name and your memory — that is what our whole being longs for.

With my whole being I ache for you in the night — yes, with my spirit deep inside me I search for you. Because when your judgments come to earth, the people of the world learn what is right.

Even when shown undeserved kindness, the wicked never learn what is right. In a land of uprightness they still deal in wrong and refuse to see Yahweh's greatness.

Yahweh, your hand is raised high, but they do not see it. Let them see your passion for your people — and be put to shame. Yes, let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them.

Yahweh, you will establish peace for us, because everything we have accomplished — you have actually done it for us.

Yahweh our God, other masters besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone is the one we honor.

The dead do not live, the departed spirits do not rise. For this reason you punished and destroyed them and wiped out every memory of them.

You have expanded the nation, Yahweh, you have expanded the nation — you are honored! You have pushed out all the borders of the land.

Yahweh, in distress they sought you. They poured out a quiet prayer when your discipline was on them.

Like a pregnant woman about to give birth who writhes and cries out in her labor pains — that is what we were like before you, Yahweh.

We were pregnant, we writhed in pain — but what we gave birth to was wind. We accomplished no rescue for the earth, and no one was born into the world.

Your dead will live! Their bodies will rise! Wake up and shout for joy, you who lie in the dust — because your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you. Hide for just a little while until the fury passes.

Because look — Yahweh is coming out from his place to hold the inhabitants of the earth accountable for their wrongdoing. The earth will uncover the blood spilled on it and will no longer hide its slain.