A Song of Trust in the LORD's Protection

261 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah : "We have a strong city ; He sets up walls and ramparts for security . 2 "Open the gates , that the righteous nation may enter , The one that remains faithful . 3 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace , Because he trusts in You. 4 " Trust in the Lord forever , For in GOD the Lord , we have an everlasting Rock .

5 "For He has brought low those who dwell on high , the unassailable city ; He lays it low , He lays it low to the ground , He casts it to the dust . 6 " The foot will trample it, The feet of the afflicted , the steps of the helpless ." 7 The way of the righteous is smooth ; O Upright One , make the path of the righteous level . 8 Indeed , while following the way of Your judgments , O Lord , We have waited for You eagerly ; Your name , even Your memory , is the desire of our souls . 9 At night my soul longs for You, Indeed , my spirit within me seeks You diligently ; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness . 10 Though the wicked is shown favor , He does not learn righteousness ; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness , And does not perceive the majesty of the Lord . 11 O Lord , Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame ; Indeed , fire will devour Your enemies .

12 Lord , You will establish peace for us, Since You have also performed for us all our works . 13 O Lord our God , other masters besides You have ruled us; But through You alone we confess Your name . 14 The dead will not live , the departed spirits will not rise ; Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, And You have wiped out all remembrance of them. 15 You have increased the nation , O Lord , You have increased the nation , You are glorified ; You have extended all the borders of the land . 16 O Lord , they sought You in distress ; They could only whisper a prayer , Your chastening was upon them. 17 As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth , She writhes and cries out in her labor pains , Thus were we before e You, O Lord . 18 We were pregnant , we writhed in labor, We gave birth , as it seems, only to wind . We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth , Nor were inhabitants of the world born . 19 Your dead will live ; Their corpses will rise . You who lie in the dust , awake and shout for joy , For your dew is as the dew of the dawn , And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits .

20 Come , my people , enter into your rooms And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until indignation runs its course . 21 For behold , the Lord is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity ; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain .