Isaiah 26:7–15

⁷Lord, you are honest and fair.

You guide those who do what is right.

You lead them on a straight path.

You make their way smooth.

⁸Lord, we are living the way your laws command us to live.

We are waiting for you to act.

Our hearts long for you to be true to your name.

That’s what you are known for.

⁹My heart longs for you at night.

My spirit longs for you in the morning.

You will come and judge the earth.

Then the people of the world will learn to do what is right.

¹⁰Grace is shown to sinful people.

But they still don’t learn to do what is right.

They keep on doing evil even in a land where others are honest and fair.

They don’t have any respect for the majesty of the Lord.

¹¹Lord, you have raised your hand high to punish them.

But they don’t even see it.

Let them see how much you love your people.

Then they will be put to shame.

Let the fire you are saving for your enemies burn them up.

¹²Lord, you give us peace.

You are the one who has done everything we’ve accomplished.

¹³Lord, you are our God.

Other masters besides you have ruled over us.

But your name is the only one we honor.

¹⁴Those other masters are now dead.

They will never live again.

Their spirits won’t rise from the dead.

You punished them and destroyed them.

You wiped out all memory of them.

¹⁵Lord, you have made our nation grow.

You have made it larger.

You have gained glory for yourself.

You have increased the size of our land.