Isaiah 61:1–9

MESSIAH’S JUBILEE

61The Spirit of the Lord God is on me,^ai

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.^aj

He has sent me to heal^B the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives

and freedom to the prisoners;^a

²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,^b

and the day of our God’s vengeance;^c

to comfort^d all who mourn,

³to provide for those who mourn in Zion;

to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

festive oil instead of mourning,^e

and splendid clothes instead of despair.^C

And they will be called righteous trees,

planted by the Lord

to glorify him.^f

⁴They will rebuild the ancient ruins;^g

they will restore the former devastations;

they will renew the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

⁵Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,

and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.^h

⁶But you will be called the Lord’s priests;ⁱ

they will speak of you as ministers of our God;

you will eat the wealth of the nations,

and you will boast in their riches.

⁷In place of your shame, you will have a double portion;^j

in place of disgrace, they will rejoice over their share.

So they will possess double in their land,^k

and eternal joy will be theirs.

⁸For I the Lord love justice;^l

I hate robbery and injustice;^A

I will faithfully reward my people

and make a permanent covenant^m with them.

⁹Their descendants will be known among the nations,

and their posterity among the peoples.

All who see them will recognize

that they are a people the Lord has blessed.