1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah;
We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
3 Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee.
We have peace of mind when we trust God, no matter what we are going through.
4 Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:
Nothing is stronger than God.
5 For He brings down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, He lays it low; He lays it low, even to the ground; He brings it even to the dust.
God gives us all we need.
The proud need to be brought down to reality. God makes sure that happens.
6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
7 The way of the just is uprightness: Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
No human is more upright that God. Those that strive to be upright to please God, He sees and rewards.
8 Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for Thee; the desire of our soul is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee.
Our desire should always be to please God.
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.
10 Let favor be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
Those who will not choose to love God, will never learn what righteousness is.
11 Lord, when Thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of Thine enemies shall devour them.
The day will come, though when all will have to acknowledge God and His righteousness.
12 Lord, Thou wilt ordain peace for us: for Thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
13 O Lord our God, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us: but by Thee only will we make mention of Thy name.
Israel had had other kings and conquers than God, but no other boss is above Him.
14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast Thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
No matter how powerful and human ruler is, he will eventually die. The memory of him will fade.
15 Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, Thou hast increased the nation: Thou art glorified: Thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
16 Lord, in trouble have they visited Thee, they poured out a prayer when Thy chastening was upon them.
Some people will turn to God when He punishes them.
17 Like as a woman with child, that draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cries out in her pangs; so have we been in Thy sight, O Lord.
18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
All the pain humans go through produces nothing unless it is based in God.
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
We have the hope that even though this old house we call our bodies does quit functioning, some day we will all rise again.
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
“Just be patient, those who love God. Make yourself scarce and be wise. The evil will be punished soon.”
21 For, behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.