Isaiah 26:1-12

Easy-to-Read Version

We have a strong city with strong walls and defenses.
    But God gives us our salvation.^[a]
2 Open the gates for the good people to enter.
    They are the God’s faithful followers.

³ God, you give true peace
    to people who depend on you,
    to those who trust in you.

⁴ So trust the Lord always,
    because in the Lord Yah^[b] you have a place of safety forever.
⁵ But he will destroy the proud city
    and punish those who live there.
He will throw that high city down to the ground.
    It will fall into the dust.
⁶ Then poor and humble people will walk on those ruins.

⁷ Honesty is the path good people follow.
    They follow the path that is straight and true.
And God, you make that way smooth
    and easy to follow.
⁸ But, Lord, we are waiting for your way of justice.
    We want to honor you and your name.
⁹ At night my soul longs to be with you,
    and the spirit in me wants to be with you at the dawn of every new day.
When your way of justice comes to the world,
    people will learn the right way of living.
¹⁰ Evil people will not learn to do good,
    even if you show them only kindness.
They will still do wrong, even if they live in a good world.
    They never see the Lord’s greatness.
¹¹ Lord, your arm is raised to punish them,
    but they don’t see it.
Show them how strong your love^[c] is for your people.
    Then those who are evil will be ashamed.
    Yes, your fire will destroy your enemies.
¹² Lord, you have succeeded in doing everything we tried to do,
    so give us peace.