1In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah : We have a strong city ; salvation will he appoint for walls and bulwarks . 2Open ye the gates , that the righteous nation which keepeth faith may enter in . 3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is stayed on thee ; because he trusteth in thee. 4Trust ye in Jehovah for ever ; for in Jehovah , even Jehovah , is an everlasting rock . 5For he hath brought 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 .
The Way of the Righteous
7The way of the just is uprightness : thou that art upright dost direct the path of the just . 8Yea, in the way of thy judgments , O Jehovah , have we waited for thee; to thy name , even to thy memorial name , is the desire of our soul . 9With my soul have I desired thee in the night ; yea , with my spirit within me will I seek thee earnestly : for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness . 10Let favor be showed to the wicked , yet will he not learn righteousness ; in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of Jehovah . 11Jehovah , thy hand is lifted up , yet they see not : but they shall see thy zeal for the people , and be put to shame; yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries . 12Jehovah , thou wilt ordain peace for us ; for thou hast also wrought all our works for us .
The Judgment of the Wicked
13O Jehovah our God , other lords besides thee have had dominion over us ; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name . 14They are dead , they shall not live ; they are deceased , they shall not rise : therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them , and made all remembrance of them to perish. 15Thou hast increased the nation , O Jehovah , thou hast increased the nation ; thou art glorified ; thou hast enlarged all the borders of the land. 16Jehovah , 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 we have been before thee , O Jehovah . 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 shall live ; my dead bodies shall arise . Awake and sing , ye that dwell in the dust ; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast forth the dead .
A Call to Trust in God
20Come , my people , enter thou into thy chambers , and shut thy doors about thee : hide thyself for a little moment , until the indignation be overpast . 21For , behold , Jehovah cometh forth 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 .