Isaiah 26:16-19

New International Reader's Version

¹⁶ Lord, when your people were suffering, they came to you.
    When you punished them,
    they could barely whisper a prayer.
¹⁷ Lord, you made us like a woman who is about to have a baby.
    She groans and cries out in pain.
¹⁸ We were pregnant and groaned with pain.
    But nothing was born.
We didn’t bring your saving power to the earth.
    And the people of the world have not come to life.

¹⁹ Lord, your people who have died will live again.
    Their bodies will rise from the dead.
Let those who lie in the grave
    wake up and shout for joy.
You give life, Lord, like the dew of the morning.
    So the earth will give up its dead people.