Isaiah 26:7
New International Version
The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.

Berean Standard Bible
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.

King James Bible
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

New King James Version
The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.

New American Standard Bible
The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.

NASB 1995
The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.

NASB 1977
The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.

Legacy Standard Bible
The way of the righteous is upright; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.

Amplified Bible
The way of the righteous [those in right-standing with God—living in moral and spiritual integrity] is smooth and level; O Upright One, make a level path for the just and righteous.

Christian Standard Bible
The path of the righteous is level; you clear a straight path for the righteous.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the righteous.

American Standard Version
The way of the just is uprightness: thou that art upright dost direct the path of the just.

Contemporary English Version
Our LORD, you always do right, and you make the path smooth for those who obey you.

English Revised Version
The way of the just is uprightness: thou that art up right dost direct the path of the just.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The path of the righteous is level. O Upright One, you make the road of the righteous smooth.

Good News Translation
LORD, you make the path smooth for good people; the road they travel is level.

International Standard Version
"The path of the righteous is level; O Upright One, you make safe the way of justice.

Majority Standard Bible
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.

NET Bible
The way of the righteous is level, the path of the righteous that you make is straight.

New Heart English Bible
The way of the righteous is level. O Just One, you make the path of the righteous smooth.

Webster's Bible Translation
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

World English Bible
The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The path for the righteous [is] uprightness, "" O upright One, "" You ponder the path of the righteous.

Young's Literal Translation
The path for the righteous is uprightness, O upright One, The path of the righteous Thou dost ponder.

Smith's Literal Translation
The way to the just one is straightness: being upright, thou wilt prepare the departing of the just one.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The way of the just is right, the path of the just is right to walk in.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The path of the just is upright; the difficult path of the just is right to walk in.

New American Bible
The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level.

New Revised Standard Version
The way of the righteous is level; O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The way of the humble is straight; the path of the righteous is straight and level.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The straight path for the poor and the straight and level road of the righteous ones
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The way of the just is straight; Thou, Most Upright, makest plain the path of the just.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The way of the godly is made straight: the way of the godly is also prepared.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Song of Trust in God's Provision
6Feet trample it down—the feet of the oppressed, the steps of the poor. 7The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright. 8Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.…

Cross References
Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Psalm 37:23
The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.

Psalm 25:8-9
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. / He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

Psalm 5:8
Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

Psalm 107:7
He led them on a straight path to reach a city where they could live.

Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 40:3-4
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. / Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

Isaiah 45:13
I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.”

Isaiah 48:17
Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Luke 3:4-6
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. / Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. / And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”


Treasury of Scripture

The way of the just is uprightness: you, most upright, do weigh the path of the just.

way

Isaiah 35:8
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

1 Chronicles 29:17
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

Job 27:5,6
God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me…

most

1 Samuel 2:2-4
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God…

Job 31:6
Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

Psalm 1:6
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

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Isaiah 26
1. Trust in God's Provision














The path of the righteous
The phrase "The path of the righteous" refers to the journey or way of life that those who are in right standing with God undertake. In Hebrew, the word for "path" is "orach," which implies a well-trodden road or a way of life. The righteous, or "tzaddik," are those who live in accordance with God's laws and commandments. Historically, the concept of a path is significant in the ancient Near Eastern context, where roads were essential for trade, communication, and pilgrimage. Spiritually, this path is not just a physical journey but a metaphor for the moral and ethical life that aligns with God's will.

is level
The phrase "is level" suggests smoothness and ease, indicating that the path of the righteous is made straight and even by God. The Hebrew word "mishor" conveys the idea of a plain or level ground, free from obstacles. This imagery is powerful, as it contrasts with the often rugged and treacherous terrain of ancient Israel. In a spiritual sense, a level path signifies divine guidance and providence, ensuring that the righteous can walk without stumbling. It reflects God's faithfulness in providing clarity and direction to those who seek Him.

You clear a straight path
"You clear a straight path" emphasizes God's active role in preparing the way for the righteous. The Hebrew verb "palas" means to make smooth or to weigh out, suggesting careful preparation and attention. This phrase underscores the belief that God is intimately involved in the lives of His people, removing obstacles and guiding them towards their divine purpose. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects God's covenant faithfulness, as He continually works to fulfill His promises to His people.

for the righteous
The repetition of "for the righteous" at the end of the verse reinforces the special relationship between God and those who live according to His will. It highlights the assurance that the righteous can have in God's provision and protection. In the Hebrew context, righteousness is not merely about legalistic adherence to the law but encompasses a holistic commitment to justice, mercy, and humility before God. This assurance is a source of hope and encouragement, inspiring believers to pursue a life of righteousness with the confidence that God is with them every step of the way.

(7) The way of the just is uprightness.--The English version seems somewhat tautologous. Better, is straight, or is even--i.e., leads on without interruption to its appointed end. So, in the second clause, instead of "thou shalt weigh the path," which conveys a not very intelligible thought, we render, makest smooth the path. Probably, too, the word translated, "most upright," as if it were a vocative, should be taken adverbially. The verse is, as it were, an echo of Proverbs 4:26; Proverbs 5:6; Proverbs 5:21.

Verse 7. - The way of the just is uprightness; or, the path for the just is straight. It is one of the main blessings of the righteous that God "makes their way straight before their face" (Psalm 4:8), "leads them in a plain path" (Psalm 27:11), "shows them the way they are to walk in" (Psalm 143:8), so that they are for the most part free from doubt and perplexity as to the line of conduct which it behooves them to, pursue. If this is so in the present life, still more will it be the uniform condition of the just in another sphere. Then God will of a surety "direct all their paths" (Proverbs 3:6). Thou, most upright, dost weigh; literally, O upright One, thou dost weigh. The term "upright" is applied to God in Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 25:8; and Psalm 92:16. By "weighing the path of the just" is meant keeping it, as Justice keeps her scales, straight and level.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The path
אֹ֥רַח (’ō·raḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 734: A well-trodden road, a caravan

of the righteous
לַצַּדִּ֖יק (laṣ·ṣad·dîq)
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

is level;
מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים (mê·šā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4339: Evenness, prosperity, concord, straightness, rectitude

You clear
תְּפַלֵּֽס׃ (tə·p̄al·lês)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6424: To roll flat, prepare, to revolve, weigh

a straight
צַדִּ֖יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

path
מַעְגַּ֥ל (ma‘·gal)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4570: An entrenchment, track

for the righteous.
יָשָׁ֕ר (yā·šār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 26:6
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