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Isaiah 26

A song put in the mouth of Judah, sung after the judgments of chapters 24-25. It opens by contrasting two cities: the "strong city" whose walls are salvation, and the "lofty city" God lays low to the dust, trodden by the feet of the poor. Read it as a night-prayer that turns honest. The singers admit their labor came to nothing — they gave birth "only to wind" — yet the answer is a promise that the dead bodies of God's people will rise and sing.

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Isaiah 26 (WEB)

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.

Isaías 26 (RV1909)

1
EN aquel día cantarán este cantar en tierra de Judá: Fuerte ciudad tenemos: salud puso Dios por muros y antemuro.
2
Abrid las puertas, y entrará la gente justa, guardadora de verdades.
3
Tú le guardarás en completa paz, cuyo pensamiento en ti persevera; porque en ti se ha confiado.
4
Confiad en Jehová perpetuamente: porque en el Señor Jehová está la fortaleza de los siglos.
5
Porque derribó los que moraban en lugar sublime: humilló la ciudad ensalzada, humillóla hasta la tierra, derribóla hasta el polvo.
6
Hollarála pie, los pies del afligido, los pasos de los menesterosos.
7
El camino del justo es rectitud: Tú, Recto, pesas el camino del justo.
8
También en el camino de tus juicios, oh Jehová, te hemos esperado: á tu nombre y á tu memoria es el deseo del alma.
9
Con mi alma te he deseado en la noche; y en tanto que me durare el espíritu en medio de mí, madrugaré á buscarte: porque luego que hay juicios tuyos en la tierra, los moradores del mundo aprenden justicia.
10
Alcanzará piedad el impío, y no aprenderá justicia; en tierra de rectitud hará iniquidad, y no mirará á la majestad de Jehová.
11
Jehová, bien que se levante tu mano, no ven: verán al cabo , y se avergonzarán los que envidian á tu pueblo; y á tus enemigos fuego los consumirá.
12
Jehová, tú nos depararás paz; porque también obraste en nosotros todas nuestras obras.
13
Jehová Dios nuestro, señores se han enseñoreado de nosotros fuera de ti; mas en ti solamente nos acordaremos de tu nombre.
14
Muertos son , no vivirán: han fallecido, no resucitarán: porque los visitaste, y destruiste, y deshiciste toda su memoria.
15
Añadiste al pueblo, oh Jehová, añadiste al pueblo: hicístete glorioso: extendíste lo hasta todos los términos de la tierra.
16
Jehová, en la tribulación te buscaron: derramaron oración cuando los castigaste.
17
Como la preñada cuando se acerca el parto gime, y da gritos con sus dolores, así hemos sido delante de ti, oh Jehová.
18
Concebimos, tuvimos dolores de parto, parimos como viento: salud ninguna hicimos en la tierra, ni cayeron los moradores del mundo.
19
Tus muertos vivirán; junto con mi cuerpo muerto resucitarán. ¡Despertad y cantad, moradores del polvo! porque tu rocío, cual rocío de hortalizas; y la tierra echará los muertos.
20
Anda, pueblo mío, éntrate en tus aposentos, cierra tras ti tus puertas; escóndete un poquito, por un momento, en tanto que pasa la ira.
21
Porque he aquí que Jehová sale de su lugar, para visitar la maldad del morador de la tierra contra él; y la tierra descubrirá sus sangres, y no más encubrirá sus muertos.

From failed labor to resurrection

The chapter's hinge is the birth metaphor of verses 17-18: Judah strained like a woman in childbirth and delivered nothing that saved the land. Against that confessed failure stands verse 19's reversal — "Your dead shall live" — one of the Old Testament's clearest hopes of bodily resurrection.

The closing command (v. 20-21) tells the people to step inside and shut the door for "a little moment" while indignation passes, picturing God coming out of his place to call the earth to account for shed blood.