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¹ In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; walls and bulwarks doth He appoint for salvation.² Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in.³ The mind stayed on Thee Thou keepest in perfect peace; because it trusteth in Thee.⁴ Trust ye in the LORD for ever, for the LORD is GOD, an everlasting Rock.

⁵ For He hath brought down them that dwell on high, the lofty city, laying it low, laying it low even to the ground, bringing it even to the dust.⁶ The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.⁷ The way of the just is straight; Thou, Most Upright, makest plain the path of the just.⁸ Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for Thee; to Thy name and to Thy memorial is the desire of our soul.⁹ With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me have I sought Thee earnestly; for when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.¹⁰ Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. ¹¹ LORD, Thy hand was lifted up, yet they see not; they shall see with shame Thy zeal for the people; yea, fire shall devour Thine adversaries.

¹² LORD, Thou wilt establish peace for us; for Thou hast indeed wrought all our works for us. ¹³ O LORD our God, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us; but by Thee only do we make mention of Thy name.¹⁴ The dead live not, the shades rise not; to that end hast Thou punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.¹⁵ Thou hast gotten Thee honour with the nations, O LORD, yea, exceeding great honour with the nations; Thou art honoured unto the farthest ends of the earth. ¹⁶ LORD, in trouble have they sought Thee, silently they poured out a prayer when Thy chastening was upon them.¹⁷ Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been at Thy presence, O LORD.¹⁸ We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the land; neither are the inhabitants of the world come to life.¹⁹ Thy dead shall live, my dead bodies shall arise--awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust--for Thy dew is as the dew of light, and the earth shall bring to life the shades.

²⁰ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.²¹ For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of His place to visit upon the inhabitants of the earth their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.