Isaiah 61

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

7For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

8For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.footnote a

11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me,because the LORD has anointed Meto preach good news to the poor.He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captivesand freedom to the prisoners,footnote a 2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favorfootnote band the day of our God’s vengeance,to comfort all who mourn, 3to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes,the oil of joy for mourning,and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.So they will be called oaks of righteousness,the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

4They will rebuild the ancient ruins;they will restore the places long devastated;they will renew the ruined cities,the desolations of many generations. 5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers. 6But you will be called the priests of the LORD;they will speak of you as ministers of our God;you will feed on the wealth of nations,and you will boast in their riches. 7Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion,and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share;and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,and everlasting joy will be theirs.

8For I, the LORD, love justice;I hate robbery and iniquity;in My faithfulness I will give them their recompenseand make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their descendants will be known among the nations,and their offspring among the peoples.All who see them will acknowledgethat they are a people the LORD has blessed.

10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,my soul will exult in my God;for He has clothed me with garments of salvationand wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress,as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its growth,and as a garden enables seed to spring up,so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praiseto spring up before all the nations.