Isaiah – Chapter 26

Old Testament21 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 26 of Isaiah begins: "In that day shall this canticle be sung in the land of Juda. Sion the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a bulwark shall be set…" Across its 21 verses, two threads run through the text: justice and care for the poor and worship and praise. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1In that day shall this canticle be sung in the land of Juda. Sion the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a bulwark shall be set therein.

2Open ye the gates, and let the just nation, that keepeth the truth, enter in.

3The old error is passed away: thou wilt keep peace: peace, because we have hoped in thee.

4You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty for ever.

5For he shall bring down them that dwell on high, the high city he shall lay low. He shall bring it down even to the ground, he shall pull it down even to the dust.

6The foot shall tread it down, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.

7The way of the just is right, the path of the just is right to walk in.

8And in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, we have patiently waited for thee: thy name, and thy remembrance are the desire of the soul.

9My soul hath desired thee in the night: yea, and with my spirit within me in the morning early I will watch to thee. When thou shalt do thy judgments on the earth, the inhabitants of the world shall learn justice.

10Let us have pity on the wicked, but he will not learn justice: in the land of the saints he hath done wicked things, and he shall not see the glory of the Lord.

11Lord, let thy hand be exalted, and let them not see: let the envious people see, and be confounded: and let fire devour thy enemies.

12Lord, thou wilt give us peace: for thou hast wrought all our works for us.

13O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us, only in thee let us remember thy name.

14Let not the dead live, let not the giants rise again: therefore hast visited and destroyed them, and hast destroyed all their memory.

15Thou hast been favourable to the nation, O Lord, thou hast been favourable to the nation: art thou glorified? thou hast removed all the ends of the earth far off.

16Lord, they have sought after thee in distress, in the tribulation of murmuring thy instruction was with them.

17As a woman with child, when she draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs: so are we become in thy presence, O Lord.

18We have conceived, and been as it were in labour, and have brought forth wind: we have not wrought salvation on the earth, therefore the inhabitants of the earth have not fallen.

19Thy dead men shall live, my slain shall rise again: awake, and give praise, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is the dew of the light: and the land of the giants thou shalt pull down into ruin.

20Go, my people, enter into thy chambers, shut thy doors upon thee, hide thyself a little for a moment, until the indignation pass away.

21For behold the Lord will come out of his place, to visit the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth against him: and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall cover her slain no more.

Important Verses in Isaiah 26

You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty for ever.

Isaiah 26:4

Let us have pity on the wicked, but he will not learn justice: in the land of the saints he hath done wicked things, and he shall not see the glory of the Lord.

Isaiah 26:10

O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us, only in thee let us remember thy name.

Isaiah 26:13

For behold the Lord will come out of his place, to visit the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth against him: and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall cover her slain no more.

Isaiah 26:21

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Isaiah was written with judah in crisis, the exiles in Babylon, and all who await the Messiah in view. Chapter 26 of 66 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 21 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. It opens with the line: "In that day shall this canticle be sung in the land of Juda. Sion the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a…" The chapter ends with: "For behold the Lord will come out of his place, to visit the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth against him: and…" Read against its original backdrop, Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem during the Assyrian crisis, calling kings to trust God rather than alliances. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples

When It Was Written

Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter presents teaching, action, or revelation within the broader account of judgment, comfort, and messianic hope. A pivotal line is verse 4: "You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty for ever." The passage repeatedly touches on justice and care for the poor.

Catholic exegesis reads Isaiah 26 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). St. Irenaeus and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1265).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • Suffering, united to Christ, becomes a path of purification and deeper trust in God.

Reflection for Today

Isaiah Chapter 26, containing 21 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation, offers a distinct passage for prayer and meditation.

The Magisterium teaches that every biblical passage must be read in light of Christ, the center of Scripture (CIC 721). Here the emphasis falls on courage in witness to the Gospel, which shapes how the Church understands judgment, comfort, and messianic hope.

As you continue through Isaiah, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah Chapter 26 about?

Isaiah 26 contains 21 verses. It opens with "In that day shall this canticle be sung in the land of Juda. Sion the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a…" and closes with "For behold the Lord will come out of his place, to visit the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth against him: and…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles and poetry.

What is a key verse in Isaiah 26?

One of the most significant verses is verse 4: "You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty for ever." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Isaiah and when?

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples. Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

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