The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirite of the Sovereign Lordf is on me,

because the Lord has anointedg me

to proclaim good newsh to the poor.i

He has sent me to bind upj the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedomk for the captivesl

and release from darkness for the prisoners,a

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favorm

and the day of vengeancen of our God,

to comforto all who mourn,p

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crownq of beauty

instead of ashes,r

the oils of joy

instead of mourning,t

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a plantingu of the Lord

for the display of his splendor.v

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruinsw

and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangersx will shepherd your flocks;

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priestsy of the Lord,

you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealthz of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shamea

you will receive a doubleb portion,

and instead of disgrace

you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inheritc a double portion in your land,

and everlasting joyd will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;e

I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people

and make an everlasting covenantf with them.

9 Their descendantsg will be known among the nations

and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge

that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”h

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoicesi in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,j

as a bridegroom adorns his headk like a priest,

and as a bridel adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a gardenm causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousnessn

and praise spring up before all nations.