1In the day that this song is sung in the land of Judah: a strong city belongs to us; salvation appoints walls and a rampart.2Open the gates, and let a righteous nation that keeps faithfulness enter.3A steadfast intention watches peace, because it trusts in you.4Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting rock.5For he has brought low the dwellers of the height, the exalted town; he brings it down, he brings it down to the land, he makes it touch the dust.6The foot tramples it, the feet of the afflicted, the steps of the poor.7The way of the righteous is level; you make straight the track of the righteous.8Also the way of your judgments, the LORD, we have waited for you; the desire of our soul is for your name and your memorial.9My soul has desired you in the night; my spirit within me seeks you, for when your judgments are on the land, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.10Though the wicked is shown grace, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he acts unjustly and does not see the majesty of the LORD.11O LORD, your hand is lifted high; they do not see; let them see and be ashamed; the jealousy of the people, yes, the fire for your enemies, consumes them.12O LORD, you establish peace for us, for you have also accomplished all our works for us.13O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but through you alone we remember your name.14The dead do not live; the shades do not rise; therefore you have visited and destroyed them and made all memory of them perish.15You have increased the nation, O LORD; you have increased the nation; you are honored; you have extended all the boundaries of the land.16O LORD, in distress they sought you; they poured out a whisper of discipline upon them.17As a pregnant woman draws near to give birth, she writhes and cries out in her pains, so were we before you, the LORD.18We conceived, we writhed; we gave birth to wind; we have not made salvation in the land, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.19Your dead shall live; shall arise; awake and sing, you dwellers in the dust, for your dew is a dew of lights, and the land will cast out the shades.20Go, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide for a little moment until the indignation passes by.21For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to reckon the iniquity of the dweller of the land upon him; and the land will uncover her bloods and will no longer cover her slain.