A song in Judah: the righteous nation enters a strong city. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. The dead shall live, and the earth will give birth to those who have died.
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 .
2 Open ye the gates , that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in .
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust 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 .
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 : thou, most upright , dost weigh the path of the just .
8 Yea, 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.
9 With 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 .
10 Let 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 .
11 LORD , 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.
13 O 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 .
15 Thou 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 .
16 LORD , in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
17 Like 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 .
18 We 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 .
19 Thy 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 .
21 For, 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 .