1 ¶ In that day they shall sing this song in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; God has appointed saving health for walls and bulwarks.

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 O pen ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.

Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.

3 T hou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.

You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.

4 T rust ye in the LORD for ever: for in JAH, the LORD is the strength of the ages:

Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.

5 ¶ For he has brought down those that dwelt on high; he has humbled the lofty city; he humbled her, even to the ground; he brought her down even to the dust.

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 T he foot shall tread her down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.

The foot shall tread it down; Even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.”

7 T he way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.

8 Y ea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, we wait for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee.

Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.

9 W ith my soul I desire thee in the night; yea, even as long as the spirit is within me I will seek thee early: for as long as thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

With my soul have I desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

10 L et favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

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 Yahweh’s majesty.

11 L ORD, when thy hand is withdrawn, they will not see: but they shall see in the end and be ashamed with the zeal of the people. And fire shall consume thine enemies.

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

Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.

13 O LORD our God, other lords have had dominion over us without thee: but in thee only will we remember thy name.

Yahweh our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but by you only will we make mention of your name.

14 T hey are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise because thou hast visited and destroyed them and made all their memory to perish.

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 T hou hast added the Gentiles, O LORD, thou hast added the Gentiles: thou hast made thyself glorious: thou hast extended thyself unto all the ends of the earth.

You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.

16 L ORD, in the tribulation they have sought thee, they poured out prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.

17 L ike as a woman with child, that draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cries out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

Like 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, Yahweh.

18 W e have conceived, we have had birth pangs; we have, as it were, brought forth wind; we have not wrought any health in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

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 T hy dead shall live, and together with my body they shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the covering of light, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Your dead shall live. My 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 thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment until the indignation is overpast.

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 F or, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to visit the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth against himself: the earth also shall disclose her blood and shall no longer cover her slain.

For, behold, Yahweh 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.