Isaiah 26:9

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.

Isaiah 26:9 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right.
The Message Bible (MSG)
9 Through the night my soul longs for you. Deep from within me my spirit reaches out to you. When your decisions are on public display, everyone learns how to live right.
American Standard Version (ASV)
9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee earnestly: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
9 With my soul I long for you at night. Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you. When your guiding principles are on earth, those who live in the world learn to do what is right.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
9 I long for You in the night; yes, my spirit within me diligently seeks You, for when Your judgments are [in] the land, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
9 My heart longs for you at night. My spirit longs for you in the morning. You will come and judge the earth. Then the people of the world will learn to do what is right.

Isaiah 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 26:9

With my soul have I desired thee in the night
Either literally, when others were asleep: or figuratively, in the captivity; which, as Jarchi says, was like unto the night; or in the time of Jewish and Gentile darkness, preceding the coming of Christ; or rather in the time of latter day darkness, when the church is represented as heartily desirous of, and importunately praying for, the latter day glory, the rising of the sun of righteousness, the spiritual reign of Christ, the spread of his Gospel, and the setting up of his kingdom and glory in the world; so the Targum,

``my soul desireth to pray before thee in the night;''
her desires were expressed by prayer: yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early;
she determines to continue seeking the Lord night and day, with the greatest intenseness of spirit, and eagerness of soul, until she obtained and enjoyed what she sought for; namely, the presence of Christ, communion with him, the discoveries of his love, and larger measures of his grace, light, and knowledge; for when thy judgments [are] in the earth;
such as pestilence, famine, sword, and the like; especially the judgments of God on antichrist, and the antichristian states, which will be just and righteous; see ( Revelation 19:2 ) : the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness;
not the wicked inhabitants of the world, for the contrary is suggested in the following verses; but the saints that are in the world, the upright ones, the righteous before mentioned, the church and her members; these, by the judgments of God in the world, learn what a righteous Being he is, how unrighteous men are, on whose account these judgments come, and themselves too, as in his sight; and they learn the insufficiency of their own righteousness to justify them before him, and their need, the worth and value, of the righteousness of Christ: and also learn hereby to live soberly, righteously, and godly, ( Psalms 119:67 Psalms 119:71 ) ( 94:12 ) they learn to ascribe righteousness to God, and to fear and worship him, ( Revelation 15:3 Revelation 15:4 ) ( Revelation 16:5 Revelation 16:6 ) .

Isaiah 26:9 In-Context

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.
10 But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the LORD.
11 LORD, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them.

Cross References 4

  • 1. S Psalms 119:55
  • 2. Psalms 42:1-3; Psalms 63:1; Psalms 78:34; Isaiah 55:6
  • 3. S 1 Chronicles 16:14
  • 4. Matthew 6:33
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