Isaiah 26:7

7 The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.

Isaiah 26:7 in Other Translations

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 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.

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: thou that art upright dost direct the path of the just.

7 The path of the righteous is level. O Upright One, you make the road of the righteous smooth.

7 The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the righteous.

7 Lord, you are honest and fair. You guide those who do what is right. You lead them on a straight path. You make their way smooth.

Isaiah 26:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 26:7

The way of the just [is] uprightness
Or, "the way for the just is uprightnesses" ^F19, most upright; the way which is appointed for him, and which he is directed to walk in, is a way of righteousness and holiness, and in which he does walk; he walks uprightly, according to the rules of the word, becoming the Gospel of Christ, and worthy of his calling: or, it is "evennesses"; a most plain and even way, in which men, though fools, shall not err, ( Isaiah 35:8 ) or, "the way" of the Lord "to the just is uprightnesses", or "evennesses"; most upright, or most even; there is no inequality in it, though sometimes so charged, ( Ezekiel 18:25 Ezekiel 18:29 ) it is entirely agreeable to justice, equity, and truth; regular and even, and suited to all his perfections of wisdom, goodness ^F20: thou most upright;
these words are addressed to God, and contain an appellation and description of him, who is upright, just, and true, and loves upright and righteous persons; so Kimchi and Ben Melech take the word to be in the vocative case, and as an address to God; though some render them, "he is upright" ^F21; that is, the just man is upright, whose way is uprightness; but the former sense best agrees with what follows: dost weigh the path of the just;
observe, consider, and approve of it, as being according to rule, and agreeable to his mind and will, ( Psalms 1:6 ) or, "thou dost level" or "make even the path of the just" {w}; remove all impediments and obstructions out of it, direct his goings, order his steps, and cause him to walk in a straight way, wherein he shall not stumble, ( Jeremiah 31:9 ) and so this is a reason given why the way of the just is even, because it is made so by the Lord himself.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (Myrvym qydul xrwa) "via justo rectitudines", Vatablus.
F20 For this note, I am indebted to my learned, pious, and ingenious friend, the Rev. Mr. Hervey; see Theron and Aspasio, vol 2. Dialog. 13. p. 225. Ed 3.
F21 (rvy) "rectus est", De Dieu.
F23 (olpt) "aequabis", Vatablus. So Ben Melech explains it by (rvwy) , making a thing plain and even.

Isaiah 26:7 In-Context

5 He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust.

6 Feet trample it down— the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor.

7 The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.

8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Cross References

• 1. S Psalms 26:12
• 2. S Psalms 25:8
• 3. S Exodus 14:19; Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16