Isaiah 26

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 26

1¶ In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will [God] appoint [for] walls and bulwarks.

2Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

3Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.

4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH [is] everlasting strength:

5¶ For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, [even] to the ground; he bringeth it [even] to the dust.

6The foot shall tread it down, [even] the feet of the poor, [and] the steps of the needy.

7The way of the just [is] uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

8Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

9With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

10Let favour be shewed to the wicked, [yet] will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

11LORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: [but] they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

12¶ LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

13O LORD our God, [other] lords beside thee have had dominion over us: [but] by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

14[They are] dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

15Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed [it] far [unto] all the ends of the earth.

16LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them.

17Like as a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

18We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

19Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

20¶ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

This chapter presents a song of praise for God's strong city, where salvation serves as walls for the righteous nation. It declares that perfect peace is found in trusting the LORD JEHOVAH, who brings down the proud and exalts the humble. The chapter also anticipates divine judgment upon the wicked, while promising resurrection for God's dead. Finally, it exhorts God's people to hide themselves for a moment before His final wrath upon the earth.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a song celebrating a strong city, whose walls and bulwarks are salvation appointed by God, allowing the righteous nation to enter. It emphasizes that those whose minds are stayed on the LORD, trusting in His everlasting strength, will experience perfect peace. This God is depicted as one who humbles the lofty and exalts the poor. The people express their desire for the LORD's name and judgments, recognizing that divine judgments on earth teach righteousness. However, the wicked, even with favour, refuse to learn righteousness and will ultimately face shame and destruction. The chapter acknowledges past dominion by other lords but affirms the LORD's sole sovereignty, promising peace and the destruction of adversaries. It culminates in a promise of resurrection for the dead, followed by an instruction for God's people to hide during a period of divine indignation.

Long Summary

Isaiah 26 begins with a prophetic song to be sung in Judah, celebrating a strong city whose defense is God's salvation, welcoming the righteous nation that keeps the truth. The song proclaims that the LORD will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfastly trusting in Him, for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. This divine power is demonstrated by His bringing down of the proud and lofty cities, which the feet of the poor and needy will tread upon. The chapter affirms the uprightness of the just and expresses the people's earnest waiting for the LORD's judgments, desiring His name and remembrance, believing that His judgments on earth will teach righteousness to the world. Yet, it laments that the wicked, despite receiving favour, will not learn righteousness or behold the LORD's majesty, and will ultimately face shame and be consumed by divine fire when His hand is lifted up. The people acknowledge the LORD as the one who ordains peace and has wrought all their works, confessing that other lords once had dominion but now only the LORD's name is mentioned, as those former oppressors are dead and their memory perished. Despite a past period of trouble and seemingly fruitless travail, the chapter culminates in a powerful promise of resurrection: "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise," and the earth shall cast out the dead. Finally, the people are exhorted to hide themselves in their chambers for a brief moment until the LORD's indignation passes, as He comes forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will no longer conceal its slain.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Protection and PeaceThe chapter portrays God as the ultimate protector, appointing salvation as walls for His strong city, and granting perfect peace to those who trust steadfastly in Him.
  • Humbling of the ProudThe LORD is depicted as bringing down the lofty city and those who dwell on high, allowing the poor and needy to tread upon what was once exalted.
  • Learning Righteousness through JudgmentIt is stated that when God's judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness, though the wicked are specifically noted as resisting this lesson.
  • Sovereignty and DeliveranceThe people acknowledge the LORD's sole dominion, confessing that other lords once ruled but are now destroyed, and the LORD alone ordains peace and works deliverance for His nation.
  • Resurrection of the DeadA profound promise is made that God's dead will live and arise, with the earth casting out its dead, signifying a future restoration and new life.
  • Divine Indignation and PunishmentThe chapter concludes with a warning of the LORD's coming indignation to punish the earth's inhabitants for their iniquity, urging His people to hide until His wrath passes.