16 O Lord, (A)in distress they sought you;
    they poured out a whispered prayer
    when your discipline was upon them.
17 (B)Like a pregnant woman
    who writhes and cries out in her pangs
    when she is near to giving birth,
so were we because of you, O Lord;
18     (C)we were pregnant, we writhed,
    but we have given birth to wind.
We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth,
    and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.
19 (D)Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.
    You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!
For (E)your dew is a dew of light,
    and the earth will give birth to the dead.

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16 Lord, they[a] came to you in distress;
    they poured out their secret[b] prayer
        when your chastenings were[c] afflicting[d] them.
17 Just as a pregnant woman writhes
    and cries out during her labor
when she is about to give birth,
    so were we because of you, Lord.
18 We were pregnant, writhing in pain,
    but we gave birth only to wind.
We have not won your[e] victory on earth,
nor have the inhabitants of the world been born.”

The Resurrection of the Dead

19 “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise.
Those who live in the dust will wake up and shout for joy![f]
For your dew is like the dew of dawn,
and the earth will give birth to the dead.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 26:16 So 1QIsaa MT; MTmss LXXmss read we; LXX reads I remembered you
  2. Isaiah 26:16 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsab MT read out a magical
  3. Isaiah 26:16 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read your chastening was
  4. Isaiah 26:16 Lit. upon
  5. Isaiah 26:18 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks your
  6. Isaiah 26:19 So 1QIsaa; MT reads Wake up and shout for joy, you; LXX reads Those in the dust will rejoice, for