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16 Lord, in distress we searched for you.
    We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline.
17 Just as a pregnant woman
    writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth,
    so were we in your presence, Lord.
18 We, too, writhe in agony,
    but nothing comes of our suffering.
We have not given salvation to the earth,
    nor brought life into the world.
19 But those who die in the Lord will live;
    their bodies will rise again!
Those who sleep in the earth
    will rise up and sing for joy!
For your life-giving light will fall like dew
    on your people in the place of 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