Chapter XXVI · Location 26 of 66
Chapter 26 · Open to readFrom Isaias · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Isaias Chapter 26 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
The chapter’s sequence retains its particular images and conditions. Edition interpretations remain separately attributed rather than certified claims. Promises and warnings retain their scope without invented scenes or universal practical guarantees.
Chapter breakdown
Isaias 26 presents a canticle for Juda. Sion is the city of our strength, with saviour, wall and bulwark set therein. Gates open to a just, truth-keeping nation. Old error passes and peace is associated with hope in the everlasting mighty Lord. The high city is pulled to dust under poor and needy feet. The just path, patient waiting, remembered name, night desire and morning watch accompany learning justice through judgment.
Pity toward the wicked does not bring learned justice in this passage. Petitions ask for exalted hand, confounded envy and fire against enemies. Peace is attributed to God's working their works; other lords' past dominion is recalled. Let not the dead live and giants rise remains a request, not a categorical report that tyrants cannot rise. Favor to the nation and the question art thou glorified accompany removal of earth's ends far off, not an invented enlargement of national boundaries.
Distress and instruction are likened to painful pregnancy producing wind without earthly salvation. The dead and slain shall live and rise; dust dwellers are called to praise, with dew of light and the giants' land brought to ruin. People enter chambers and shut doors briefly until indignation passes. The Lord visits earthly iniquity and earth reveals blood and slain. The edition relates the final clause to martyrs and their happy resurrection. These remain attributed prophetic words rather than a guarantee of safe housing for every believer.
The story inside
Opening: The chapter’s sequence retains its particular images and conditions. Development: Edition interpretations remain separately attributed rather than certified claims. Conclusion: Promises and warnings retain their scope without invented scenes or universal practical guarantees.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1The chapter’s sequence retains its particular images and conditions.
- 2Edition interpretations remain separately attributed rather than certified claims.
- 3Promises and warnings retain their scope without invented scenes or universal practical guarantees.
Test your recall
Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 80520–80521
26:3. The old error is passed away: thou wilt keep peace: peace, because we have hoped in thee.
Lines 80551–80552
26:12. Lord, thou wilt give us peace: for thou hast wrought all our works for us.
Lines 80575–80577
26:19. Thy 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.
Lines 80579–80581
26:20. Go, my people, enter into thy chambers, shut thy doors upon thee, hide thyself a little for a moment, until the indignation pass away.
Lines 80587–80588
Shall cover her slain no more.... This is said with relation to the martyrs, and their happy resurrection.
