1 I n 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 the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.

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

4 T rust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.

5 F or 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 it down; Even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.”

7 T he way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.

8 Y es, 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 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 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 Y ahweh, 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 Y ahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.

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

14 T he 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 Y ou have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.

16 Y ahweh, 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, 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 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 Y our 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 C ome, 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, 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.