2 Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.
2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth
2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
2 Throw wide the gates so good and true people can enter.
2 Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
2 Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter.
7 The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.
7 The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
7 The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.
7 The path of right-living people is level. The Leveler evens the road for the right-living.
7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.
7 But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
(Read Isaiah 26:5-11)
The way of the just is evenness, a steady course of obedience and holy conversation. And it is their happiness that God makes their way plain and easy. It is our duty, and will be our comfort, to wait for God, to keep up holy desires toward him in the darkest and most discouraging times. Our troubles must never turn us from God; and in the darkest, longest night of affliction, with our souls must we desire him; and this we must wait and pray to him for. We make nothing of our religion, whatever our profession may be, if we do not make heart-work of it. Though we come ever so early, we shall find God ready to receive us. The intention of afflictions is to teach righteousness: blessed is the man whom the Lord thus teaches. But sinners walk contrary to him. They will go on in their evil ways, because they will not consider what a God he is whose laws they persist in despising. Scorners and the secure will shortly feel, what now they will not believe, that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. They will not see the evil of sin; but they shall see. Oh that they would abandon their sins, and turn to the Lord, that he may have mercy upon them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 26:2
Commentary on Isaiah 26:1-4
(Read Isaiah 26:1-4)
"That day," seems to mean when the New Testament Babylon shall be levelled with the ground. The unchangeable promise and covenant of the Lord are the walls of the church of God. The gates of this city shall be open. Let sinners then be encouraged to join to the Lord. Thou wilt keep him in peace; in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, in all events. Trust in the Lord for that peace, that portion, which will be for ever. Whatever we trust to the world for, it will last only for a moment; but those who trust in God shall not only find in him, but shall receive from him, strength that will carry them to that blessedness which is for ever. Let us then acknowledge him in all our ways, and rely on him in all trials.